Bengaluru, Aug 7 — A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation led by State party President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra, Leaders of the Opposition R. Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy on Friday met the former Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti and alleged that the Congress resorted to "goondagiri" (strong-arm tactics) to force him to resign from the Chairman's post.
Addressing reporters after meeting Horatti, Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy claimed that the resignation was obtained through coercion and political pressure, violating the conventions and rules governing the Legislative Council.
He alleged that even before Horatti had formally resigned, the Congress had already nominated another person for the Chairman's post using the party's letterhead, despite Horatti continuing in office at the time.
Narayanaswamy claimed that Horatti told the BJP delegation he had "no other option" but to resign.
According to the BJP leader, Horatti said around 20 to 25 legislators entered his office and pressured him into signing the resignation letter.
He also alleged that the Chief Minister's office arranged the letterhead and that the resignation letter was prepared before obtaining Horatti's signature.
The BJP leader also alleged that Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B.K. Hariprasad, Congress MLC Saleem Ahmed, KPCC Media and Communications Department Chairman Ramesh Babu and others were present and continuously pressured Horatti, leaving him with no opportunity to refuse.
Narayanaswamy also claimed that Horatti was away attending the swearing-in ceremony of MLC Gayathri Shanthegowda when Congress leaders allegedly entered his office and remained there for nearly two hours before securing his resignation under pressure.
Describing the episode as a "black day" for Parliamentary democracy, Narayanaswamy alleged that the Congress had demonstrated a culture of "goondagiri" by forcing the resignation of the Chairman of the Legislative Council.
"What was once seen on the streets has now entered the Vidhana Soudha and even the Chairman's chamber," he said, adding that the incident amounted to an insult not only to Horatti but to every member of the Legislative Council and the institution itself.
The BJP leader said the party would not allow the matter to rest and would continue its agitation until what he termed as the Congress' "undemocratic actions" were exposed and appropriate action was taken.