Senior JD(S) MLC Basavaraj Horatti (74) was "unanimously" elected chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council on Tuesday even as the Congress members, who were protesting against the passage of the contentious anti-cow slaughter bill in the well of the House, failed to propose the name of their candidate, Naseer Ahmed, during the election.
The newly-elected deputy chairman, M. K. Pranesh declared Horatti as the new chairman.
Horatti is a seven-time MLC who entered the Council for the first time in 1980. He represents Karnataka West Teachers' constituency. He has also served as the acting chairman of the Council for six months in 2018.
Horatti has Bachelor of Arts and Master of Physical Education degrees and has served as a physical education teacher in Hubballi before taking the plunge into politics.
The chairman's post had fallen vacant as Pratapchandra Shetty of the Congress resigned on February 4 after the BJP and the JD(S) jointly moved a no-trust motion against him for the second time.
On December 15, the Upper House had witnessed a ruckus after the BJP and JD(S) members locked Shetty out of the House claiming he no longer enjoyed the confidence of the House. Shetty contended that he had rejected the no-trust notice on technical grounds. When JD(S) leader and deputy chairman S.L. Dharmegowda occupied the Chair, the Congress members dragged him out and an ugly tussle broke out between the members.
In the 75-member Upper House, the BJP has 31 members, Congress 29 and JD(S) 13, besides one Independent member and a vacant seat. A BJP-JD(S) pact has ensured that the JD(S) gets the chairman's post and the BJP, the deputy chairman's post.
BJP's M.K. Pranesh was elected the deputy chairman on January 29, after the seat fell vacant following the demise of Dharmegowda.