K'taka Council directs State Govt to elect Chairman soon

Bangalore, Mar 14 (UNI) The Karnataka Legislative Council today directed the State Government to hold election to the Chairman's post as early as possible, to which the Government readily agreed.

On the opening day of the budget session, Mr Mukyamantri Chandru, who was in the Chair, directed the State Government to hold the election after the House discussed the message of Governor T N Chaturvedi in this regard under article 175(2) of the Constitution.

In his message addressed to the Council members, the Governor had urged them to take measures to fill the post, lying vacant for a few months, to fulfil the mandatory constitutional provisions as early as possible.

Leader of the Opposition H K Patil severely criticised the State Government for having failed to communicate the message of the Governor, sent on February 20, before adjourning the House that day.

By keeping the House in the dark, the State Government had not only showed disrespect, but also cheated the constitutional head of the State, he charged.

He claimed that the fact that the State Government had failed to take any initiative to hold the election even after receiving a communication from the Governor showed that it had no concern for upholding and protecting the constitutional provisions.

Complimenting the Governor for having taken ''historic'' measures to uphold the constitutional provisions, Mr Patil sought permission from the Chair to move a thanks giving motion for the Governor's action.

Replying to the discussion, Higher Education Minister and leader of the House D H Shankaramurthy said the Government would hold the election soon and fulfil its mandatory constitutional provisions.

The Government never opposed holding the election, but only the Congress members did not cooperate. Delay in holding the election was nothing new and the Congress had set such precedences.

Opposing the Congress members' attempt to move a resolution to thank the Governor, he said receiving communication from the Governor's office was not unusual. He came down heavily on the Congress for its behaviour in showing disrespect to the Chair.

Congress members Prof B K Chandrashekhar, V S Ugrappa, Dr L Hanumanthaiah, V R Sudarshan, JD(U)'s Dr M P Nadagouda, JD(S) member Gurudev and Education Minister Basavaraj Horatti also participated in the discussion. Later, the House was adjourned to tomorrow.

UNI