BJP removes Karnataka Council deputy chairman from post

Bangalore, Jan 14 (PTI) In a rather unprecedentedaction in its history, the deputy chairman of KarnatakaLegislative Council was today removed from his post by ano-confidence motion moved by ruling BJP, bringing to fore theparty''s majority in the 75-member Upper House.

The house witnessed an uproar as Opposition Congressand JDS protested the no-confidence motion terming it as"undemocratic" and demanded the reason for Puttanna''s ouster.

The Opposition parties, which staged a walkout, laterdeclared they would boycott the proceedings.

Sources said Puttanna, who belongs to JDS, had to paya price for his remarks against the BJP government.

The motion of no-confidence moved against Puttanna byBJP''s D S Veeraiah and Doddarange Gowda was supported by 40members.

Leader of Congress Opposition Motamma hit out at theruling party for resorting to an unprecedented action saying"it will set a bad precedent".

M C Nanaiah of JDS pleaded in vain with Chairman D HShankaramurthy not to take up the motion.

As the House took the motion for voting, theOpposition members rushed into the well and launched a dharna,forcing the Chair to adjourn the House briefly.

After the House reassembled, the motion was put tovote.

The BJP has a strength of 39 members followed byCongress-17, JDS-15, JDU-1 and Independents- 3.