Basavaraj Horatti to resign as Karnataka Council Chairman on Aug 14
Synopsis
Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti has agreed to resign on 14 August after the Congress high command — through Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar — asked him to step down. With the party already naming a successor before the post is vacated, the BJP has cried foul over constitutional propriety, and Horatti himself has not hidden his hurt at the manner of his removal.
Key Takeaways
Basavaraj Horatti will formally resign as Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman on 14 August .
The resignation follows a directive from the Congress high command , conveyed by Chief Minister D.K.
Congress has already named senior leader Saleem Ahmed as its candidate for the Chairman's post.
The BJP has criticised the move, calling it a violation of constitutional convention.
The Karnataka Legislature monsoon session begins 13 August ; Horatti will resign on the second day, after the Deputy Chairman election.
Horatti will continue as an ordinary member of the Legislative Council after stepping down.
Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti has confirmed he will step down from his post, with the resignation formally scheduled for 14 August — the second day of the state legislature's monsoon session. The announcement follows a direct request from Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, acting on the directive of the Congress high command.
How the Resignation Was Triggered
The sequence of events began when the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B.K. Hariprasad met Horatti at his official residence on Thursday for discussions. Horatti said Chief Minister Shivakumar subsequently informed him that the Congress high command had taken a final decision on the matter.
'The Chief Minister made it clear that this was the final decision of the Congress high command and requested me to step down as Chairman. I have agreed to his request,' Horatti said.
Congress Picks Saleem Ahmed as Successor
The Indian National Congress (INC) has already named senior leader Saleem Ahmed as its candidate for the Council Chairman's post, announcing his name alongside a fresh list of ministers. The pre-emptive announcement has drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which argued that naming a successor while the incumbent Chair still holds office violates established convention.
The BJP maintained that the Chairman's post carries constitutional sanctity and must be kept above partisan considerations.
Horatti Expresses Displeasure
Horatti did not conceal his dissatisfaction with the manner in which the transition was handled. 'It is not right to show such disrespect to a constitutional post or to hijack it,' he said, adding that former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told him he would not intervene on the issue.
'I have been deeply hurt by the remarks that expressed a lack of confidence in me. I do not wish to continue in such an atmosphere, and that is why I have decided to resign,' Horatti said.
Session Timeline and What Happens Next
The Karnataka Legislature monsoon session is scheduled to begin on 13 August, with the opening day reserved for condolence references to departed dignitaries. Horatti has indicated he will resign on 14 August, immediately after the election to the post of Deputy Chairman on the second day of the session.
Despite stepping down, Horatti confirmed he will continue to participate in Council proceedings as an ordinary member. The episode puts a spotlight on the tension between constitutional proprieties and party-political imperatives — a fault line that is likely to define the early days of the monsoon session.
Point of View
Resignation extracted through a party directive rather than voluntary choice — sets a troubling precedent for the neutrality of constitutional offices. The BJP's objection is politically convenient, but it is not without merit: Council Chairmen and Speakers are expected to transcend party affiliation once elected. Congress's move to treat the post as a patronage slot, timed to a ministerial reshuffle list, undermines that norm. Horatti's public expression of hurt is also a signal that intra-party management in Karnataka remains a pressure point for the Shivakumar-Siddaramaiah dispensation, even as it consolidates its hold on the legislature.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Basavaraj Horatti resigning as Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman?
Horatti is resigning because the Congress high command directed him to vacate the post, a decision conveyed to him by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Horatti said he agreed to the request, though he expressed displeasure at what he called disrespect to a constitutional office.
When will Horatti officially submit his resignation?
Horatti has announced he will formally submit his resignation on 14 August, the second day of the Karnataka Legislature's monsoon session, immediately after the election to the post of Deputy Chairman.
Who will replace Horatti as Karnataka Council Chairman?
The Indian National Congress has named senior leader Saleem Ahmed as its candidate for the Council Chairman's post, announcing his name alongside a fresh ministerial list.
Why has the BJP criticised the Congress over this move?
The BJP has argued that announcing a candidate for the Council Chairman's post while the incumbent is still in office violates established convention and undermines the constitutional sanctity of the position.
Will Horatti leave the Legislative Council entirely after resigning?
No. Horatti has confirmed he will continue to participate in the proceedings of the Karnataka Legislative Council as an ordinary member even after stepping down as Chairman.
