Basavaraj Horatti has resigned from his post as Karnataka Legislative Council Chairperson, saying that the quality of debate in the legislature and the behaviour of legislators have fallen.
Basavaraj submitted his resignation to Deputy Chairperson Pranesh on March 18, requesting that he be relieved of his duties by April 1, Kannada daily Vartha Bharathi reported. In his letter, he cited personal reasons for his decision.
Speaking to reporters in Hubballi on Sunday, March 23, Basavaraj said he was disheartened by the quality of the debate in the legislature.
“The conduct in the house is upsetting. Nobody listens to the chairperson; they protest inside the house and bring play cards. I am not fit to conduct the proceedings. I have been in politics for 45 years. There is no respect in the house anymore,” he said.
He also mentioned the recent shocking allegations regarding attempts to “honey trap” politicians that were made in the Assembly recently. “These are bad times. The quality of debates in the Council and Assembly is falling. Even the general behaviour of members is deteriorating. That issues like ‘honey trap’ are surfacing in the session demonstrate the quality of our debates. I do not know if I should be there in such a House or if I should preside over it,” he said.
