Kumaraswamy meets Governor

Bangalore, Feb 24 (UNI) In the backdrop of the ongoing protests over the delay in electing a new Chairman to the Karnataka Legislative Council, state Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today called on Governor T N Chaturvedi at the Raj Bhavan here.

Emerging out of the 45-minute meeting, Mr Kumaraswamy, however, told waiting mediapersons the issue was not discussed.

''It was acordial visit. I discussed different matters with the Governor on state issues. He also asked me about the outcome of today's all-party meeting convened to discuss the final verdict of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. I briefed him on what transpired at the meeting,'' he said.

Asked whether the Government would convene a one-day session of the two Houses to put an end to the controversy over electing Council Chairman, he said, ''we will decide about it in the coming days.'' The delay in electing a new Chairman to the Legislative Council, which had not been filled since June last year, had caused unrest in both the Houses during the recent session. The Opposition Congress had boycotted both the Houses over the issue and the party members were suspended en masse in the Upper House, while the Lower House had witnessed unprecedented unruly incidents over the matter, forcing Mr Chaturvedi to intervene.

The Governor had sent a message to the Council members regarding the election. But, when Officiating Chairman N Thipanna adjourned the House a day in advance without reading out the message, the Governor, in a strongly-worded press release, questioned the adjournment without informing the members about his message.

Mr Thipanna had feigned ignorance about the message prior to the adjournment.

UNI