Senior JD(S) lawmaker Basavaraj Horatti resigned as the Legislative Council chairperson on Monday.
Horatti, who also resigned from the primary membership of the JD(S), will join the BJP on Tuesday.
He announced his decision to quit and join the BJP at a news conference.
Horatti, a seven-time MLC from the Karnataka West teachers’ constituency, said his move to join the BJP was an unexpected development. “Some of my well-wishers had been insisting for a long time. Hence, I decided to join,” he said.
Although Horatti said he has not discussed any position of power in the BJP, he is expected to get the saffron party’s backing in the upcoming election for a record 8th time.
“I have grown under the guidance of H D Deve Gowda. I have immense respect for him. I even conveyed my decision to H D Kumaraswamy. I have no dissatisfaction with either of the leaders,” Horatti said.
He thanked the voters from the teachers’ constituency who gave him an opportunity to be the MLC seven times. While he initially contested as an independent candidate, he joined the Janata Parivar in 1986 after being encouraged by Ramakrishna Hegde. Since 2000, he has been with the JD(S).
Having resigned from the post of the chairperson, Horatti has effectively resigned as an MLC from the Karnataka West Teachers’ Constituency. Had he continued, he would have completed his tenure as the MLC on July 4.
The Election Commission has announced polls for four MLC seats belonging to Graduates and Teachers’ constituencies, of which the West Teachers constituency is also included. The elections will be held on
June 13.