A silent tug-of-war between the coalition partners in Karnataka, with none conceding to the other's demand, has given the opposition BJP enough ammo to attack the government over its "indecisiveness".
On June 21, senior JD(S) leader Basavaraj Horatti was appointed as pro-tem chairman of Karnataka legislative council. On Monday, the BJP members demanded again that the chairman be elected and staged a walkout, protesting against the government's failure to follow due procedures in the election of chairman.
Earlier, BJP MLC Ayanur Manjunath questioned the sanctity of the decisions made by a pro-tem chairman and wanted to know if he had the powers to approve the budget.
Defending the government's decision, Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said, "The appointment of the pro-tem chairman was made under Article 184 of the Constitution, and hence a pro-tem chairman enjoys all the powers of an elected chairman."
Currently, the Congress has the upper hand in the 75-member legislative council with 35 members, while the BJP has 19 and JD(S) 14. There are three independents and four vacancies.
While the JD(S) is hard bargaining for the chairman's post (Horatti), the Congress members are adamant that the top post is retained by the party.
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Amid the tug-of-war, an internal war is brewing in the Congress, with coordination committee chairman and former chief minister Siddaramaiah backing senior leader S.R. Patil for the post of LC chairman.
According to sources, Siddaramaiah wants to reward his close confidante and Lingayat leader from north Karnataka, Patil, for handling his election campaign in Badami as the win proved crucial for Siddaramaiah who suffered a humiliating defeat in his hometown Chamundeshwari in Mysuru.
The move is expected to benefit Siddaramaiah, as Horatti, if denied the chairman's post, will be given the lone cabinet berth that is vacant in the JD(S) quota. As a senior minister, Horatti will automatically become the floor leader. This will put an end to the infighting within the Congress MLCs as senior members are opposed to Women and Child Welfare Minister Jayamala Ramachandra, an actor-turned-politician, holding the post of floor leader as she is a novice in politics.
Sources claim that Horatti's induction into the cabinet will also help Siddaramaiah gain control over Mysuru as Hunsur MLA A.H. Vishwanath, a Kuruba leader from Mysuru who switched sides from the Congress to the JD(S) during the elections, will be kept out of the cabinet.
The state Congress leaders are in a fix as the leaders and party workers have already registered their protest against the party with 80 seats playing second fiddle to the party with 37 seats. During the meeting of the defeated candidates on Monday too, the leaders expressed concern over JD(S) emerging stronger at the Congress party's expense in the state.