Karnataka MLC chairman resigns over misconduct issues

Basavaraj Horatti, the chairman of the Karnataka legislative council, announced his resignation on March 18. He said he would step down by April 1 due to dissatisfaction with the quality of discussions and behavior in the council. Horatti expressed frustration over lawmakers not respecting his role. He pointed out that legislators often protest and use placards during meetings, which he finds upsetting. With 45 years in politics, he mentioned that respect in the House has decreased over time. A member of the Lingayat community, Horatti previously was with the JD(S) before joining the BJP in 2022. His resignation coincides with ongoing chaos in the Karnataka Assembly related to allegations of MLAs being "honey-trapped." Horatti criticized BJP MLAs for disrupting sessions, which he believes disrespects democracy. He also noted that their protests affected the passage of essential legislation. In related news, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met with AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, with discussions reportedly focusing on the "honey trap" issue. Minister KN Rajanna, involved in the controversy, stated he would file a complaint and mentioned a so-called “CD factory” that he believes operates within various parties. The political tension increased when 18 BJP MLAs were suspended from the assembly for six months following their disruptive behavior. Speaker UT Khader emphasized that the suspension was needed to maintain order and was not a punitive action. Meanwhile, BJP MP Jagadish Shettar labeled the suspension as undemocratic and urged for its withdrawal, defending the MLAs' protests as an appeal for accountability rather than a personal attack on the Speaker.