Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman Horatti Resigns Under Congress Pressure
A very important person in Karnataka's government, Basavaraj Horatti, was in charge of a big meeting called the Legislative Council.
He decided to quit his job on Friday.
He said the ruling Congress party asked him to leave.
The Chief Minister, D K Shivakumar, spoke to him twice on the phone and then met him in person.
He told Horatti that the party's top leaders wanted him to resign, and that a no-confidence vote would be held against him if he did not quit.
Horatti was sad and called the move unfair and 'anti-democratic.'
He believes the House, not party leaders, should choose who leads it.
His resignation becomes official on August 14, just after the Legislative Session starts on August 13.
The opposition BJP said he was forced to sign the resignation, but the Chief Minister thanked him and said a new Chairman will be chosen on August 14.
Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti resigned on Friday, saying he was asked to quit by the Congress dispensation.
Horatti said Chief Minister D K Shivakumar told him the party high command had directed him to demand his resignation and would move a no-confidence motion if he refused.
He said his resignation takes effect 'respectfully' on August 14, and called the action 'unprecedented' and an 'anti-democratic move.'
The resignation followed the Congress high command approving Saleem Ahmed for Council Chairman and Umashree for Deputy Chairperson, ahead of the Legislative Session starting August 13.
BJP Leader of Opposition R. Ashok alleged Congress MLAs barged into Horatti's office and forced his signature, while Chief Minister Shivakumar said the resignation followed recent political developments and a new Chairman will be elected on August 14.
- Who
- Basavaraj Horatti, Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council, and Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar of the Congress party.
- What
- Horatti resigned as Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman after Congress leaders asked him to step down and threatened a no-confidence motion.
- When
- Friday, August 7, with the resignation taking effect on August 14.
- Where
- Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- Why
- The Congress high command reportedly directed his removal, days after approving Saleem Ahmed and Umashree as its nominees for Council Chairman and Deputy Chairperson.
Horatti and BJP critics
Congress government and high command
Pressure to resign
Horatti and BJP critics
Horatti called the action 'unprecedented' and 'anti-democratic,' saying he was told a no-confidence motion would be moved if he did not resign. BJP Leader of Opposition R. Ashok alleged Congress MLAs barged into Horatti's office, typed the resignation letter and forced him to sign it.
Congress government and high command
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the resignation was over recent political developments, thanked Horatti for stepping down, and said the question of a no-confidence motion no longer arises since he resigned.
Choosing the Council Chairman
Horatti and BJP critics
Horatti said the House, not the party's high command, should have the authority to choose the Speaker of the Assembly and the Chairman of the Legislative Council, calling the party's decision 'anti-democratic.'
Congress government and high command
The Congress high command exercised its authority to approve Saleem Ahmed for the Council chairmanship and Umashree for Deputy Chairperson in a letter to Shivakumar, ahead of new ministers being sworn in.
- Position
- Chairman, Karnataka Legislative Council
- Resignation effective
- August 14
- Reported date
- Friday, August 7
- Reason given
- Asked to resign by Congress; faced threat of no-confidence motion
- Congress nominees
- Saleem Ahmed (Chairman), Umashree (Deputy Chairperson)
- Legislative Session
- Starts August 13
- New Chairman election
- August 14, after Deputy Chairman election
- Previous affiliation
- Joined BJP on May 18, 2022; formerly Janata Dal (Secular)
