K'taka Governor holds discussion on Congress demand

Bangalore, Feb 19 (UNI) Karnataka Governor T N Chaturvedi today heard views of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and opposition Congress leaders in both the Houses on the contentious issue of holding election to the Legislative Council Chairman post.

Talking to newsmen after meeting the Governor Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Mallikarjuna Kharge said that himself, Opposition leader in the Legislative Assembly N Dharam Singh and Opposition leader in the Legislative Council H K Patil were summoned by the Governor on a pettion submitted by the party.

Mr Kharge said that Congress, which had submitted two seperate petitions to the Governor on the issue, once again convinced him about the need for holding election to the Legislative Council Chairman Post which was lying vacant for the last nine month.

He said that the party has rejected the Government's suggestion to hold election if Congress member who was to retire in June was nominated for the post of Chairman.

Mr Kharge said that Governor has constitutional right to issue instruction to the government to hold the election.

Mr Kharge said that, the Governor, after hearing views of Mr Kumaraswamy and opposition leaders, assured that he would take a decision within 24-hours and convey the same to them. He also expressed confidence that the impasse created over the issue of illegal appointment of officiating chairman to the Karnataka Legislative Council will be resolved positively.

Mr Patil, who was also present, charged the government of misusing the power by appointing JD(S) member as the officiating Chairman. "We will not allow this to happen. The Governor was briefed about the illegality of Mr N C Thippanna holding the office and also suspension of all the Congress members from the House.

The Congress had been staging agitation against the appointment of Mr Thippanna since the beginning of the Session on January 25.

The house, however, transacted business since last three days after suspending 33 Congress members including opposition leader Patil from participating the house for the rest of the Session. The issue was also echoed in the Lower house which also witnessed uproar scenes resulting in adjournment of the house for the last three days.

UNI