Overview
- Basavaraj Horatti tendered his resignation on Friday and the Legislative Council Secretary issued a notification declaring the chair vacant.
- Congress has named Saleem Ahmed for Chairman and Umashree for Deputy Chair and plans elections for both posts on August 14 with Horatti to act as pro‑tem presiding officer at the session opening.
- Horatti says he was asked by the Congress high command to quit and was warned that a no‑confidence motion would be moved if he refused.
- The BJP has accused Congress of strong‑arm tactics, alleging party legislators pressured Horatti in his office to force his resignation, a claim the Congress denies while framing the change as routine after it gained majority strength.
- The change follows recent Congress seat gains in the 75‑member Council and comes as Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar seeks high‑command approval for cabinet moves, a sequence that could reshape leadership posts and test legislative norms during the Monsoon Session.