Congress says stand on Council Chairman election vindicated

Bangalore, Feb 22 (UNI) Karnataka Governor's directive to the State Government on election to the legislative Council chairman's post without further delay has vindicated the Party's stand on the issue, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Mr Mallikarjuna Kharge said today.

Talking to newspersons here along with the leader of the opposition N Dharam Singh, the KPCC president strongly defended the action of the Congress members in the Council in stalling the proceedings of the upper house for over ten days. The Congress also resorted to dharna on the same issue in the lower house, resulting in disruption of proceedings for three days.

Mr Kharge said Congress had taken this stiff stand to uphold the democratic principles and restore the sanctity of the Upper house, which had yielded desired results.

While expressing regret over the unsavoury incident at the Karnataka Assembly in which some Congress members forced their way to Speaker's podium, Mr Kharge said the state government for the incident. The incident could have been prevented, had the government taken initiative to hold the election to the Chairman's post in the Legislative Council.

Mr Kharge took exception to the failure of the state government in communicating the Governor's decision to the Council on holding the election. He accused the officiating chairman of the Council N Thippanna of abruptly adjourning the house and held the government responsible for showing disrespect to the Governor.

Meanwhile, N Dharam Singh demanded the state government to re-convene the house and conduct the election to the post of the Chairman in the Council. The best course before the state government was to conduct the election when Chairman's post fell vacant and deputy Chairman with an accident and was immobilised, he said.

Mr Singh also accused the state government for not coming out with its stand on the final verdict of the tribunal on the Cauvery issue. He said that Congress would participate in the all-party meeting convened by the state governemnt to discuss the issue and present its views.

UNI