Council Chairman’s post: BJP and JDS to join hands?

Bengaluru: BJP is likely to offer the chairman’s post in the Legislative Council to JDS in exchange for the regional party’s support in the Upper House. This is the issue that is being hotly discussed within BJP circles, and a crucial meeting between party MLCs and Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday will take a final decision on this.

Meanwhile, the JDS party has finalized the most senior member of the Council Basavaraj Horatti’s name for the Legislative Council Chairman post.

The BJP with 31 members is the single-largest party in the Council and also enjoys the support of an independent member. The JDS has 13 MLCs and both parties together with 45 members will have a clear majority in the 75-member House. The Congress has 29 members.

There is a single vacancy with the passing away of then Deputy Chairman and JDS member Dharme Gowda.

Attempts by the BJP and the JD(S) to unseat the Chairman K. Prathapachandra Shetty on December 15 had led to acrimonious scenes after the Chairman rejected the notice on the grounds that it did not state any specific reason for moving it.

However, sources said that the Chairman cannot be removed without the post of Deputy Chairman being filled. That post is now lying vacant after the death of JD(S) member S.L. Dharme Gowda.