BELAGAVI: As the ruling coalition pummel through the opposition within its own party and ally JD(S), with the nomination of 3 time MLC from Udupi-Dakshina Kannada Prathap Chandra Shetty , the principal opposition BJP declared its support to the candidate of its own volition and ensured an unanimous decision to elect the new chairman unopposed.However, soon after Shetty (69) took charge of the post, the disappointment became evident among the front runners for the post, including JD(S) senior MLC and pro-tem chairman Basavaraj Horratti who expressed his disgust at the decision of surrendering the post to Congress.Soon after Shetty took charge, Horratti stepped out of the house and spoke to the media.“I met CM HD Kumaraswamy and told him directly that he has become a rubber stamp for the Congress decisions.Whatever decisions are taken by the Congress, Kumaraswamy has been giving his stamp. Avaru Hebbettu CM agbitidare (He has become a rubber stamp CM),” said an angry Horratti.The former education minister, who has been known for his outspoken attitude, said the Congress has shown its true colours and have been violating the terms of the alliance.“The Congress first offered its unconditional support. But now, be it KPSC or chief secretary post, Congress decisions are getting the thumb impression of the CM,” he said.Horratti opened a can of worms on the Chairman post race by stating that even in the Congress there is no unity.“While Siddaramaiah wanted his man, S R Patil to become the chairman, deputy chief minister G Parameshwara wanted Shetty to be the chairman. There is no unity within the party itself,” he said.Earlier, the two front runners including Horratti and S R Patil was obvious in their statements claiming injustice was being meted out to north Karnataka by not giving adequate representation to the legislators from those parts of the state.While both denied any aspirations and blamed the media for creating an impression of a race for the chairman post, Horratti and Patil said representation through constitutional posts like that of the chairman of council, speaker of the assembly, deputy chief minister post or the chief minister post could have boosted the morale of the N-K region.“I never aspired for the chair and it was only a media creation. However, with the legislature session happening in Belagavi, it would be wrong on my part if I did not admit that injustice has been meted out to this part of the state with no adequate representation for the people of the 13 districts in seats of power,” said Patil.Reinforcing this, and giving credence to the claims that the high command of JD(S) and Congress had chosen the middle path by denying two strong contenders for the post and opting for a “dark horse”, Horratti admitted that he had “hoped” to continue in the post as a permanent chairman but his dream was cut short.“There is nothing wrong in aspiring, we are no saints. But I did not lobby for it. I had hoped to become the permanent Chairman of the Council for the welfare of north Karnataka, as put aptly by my colleague S R Patil, but it did not happen. But I would consider it my good fortune that I got to sit in the Chair for a few months as pro-tem chairman and did as much as I could,” said Horratti.Earlier in the day, punning on the fact that the opposition leader Kota Srinivas Poojari, leader of the house and minister Jayamala and the newly elected chairman Prathap Chandra Shetty were all from the coastal districts, deputy chief minister G Parameshwara, law minister Krishna Byre Gowda and others indulged in a friendly banter by citing it was truly the best example of “adjustment” politics.“Both the opposition leader Poojari and Chairman Shetty come from the same constituency. Perhaps, it is best to explain to the house how the two of you have comfortably won your seats and grew to become the opposition leader and chairman,” said Parameshwara, with the house breaking into laughter.Byregowda went on to draw parlances with regard to the politics of Byalaseema (dry lands) and that of the coastal districts, wherein the intensity in political rivalry is similar but both Poojari and Shetty who are across the aisles continued to get elected on friendly terms.“Despite the vicious atmosphere in coastal districts in recent years, Poojari and Shetty have complimented each other and kept winning. When we consider the difference of politicians from coastal districts and the dry lands, one is for sure that you (MLCs from coastal) are intellectuals and we (from dry lands) are only intelligent and below par. The house is now in the hands of the coastal district representatives and we hope to see a good session henceforth,” said Byregowda.Earlier, Poojari said the BJP was keen on fighting the elections for the Chairman post, despite the low numbers, but decided to pull out at the last moment after the party leadership desisted from denigrating the post.

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