The Hindu : Karnataka News : Will H.K. Patil be made Council leader?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 17, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Will H.K. Patil be made Council leader?

By T.S. Ranganna

BANGALORE, DEC. 16. The induction of H.K. Patil into the Council of Ministers on Wednesday has given rise to speculation that he might be asked to take over as the Leader of the House in the Legislative Council, replacing the Water Resources Minister, M. Mallikarjun Kharge.

Mr. Patil, a member of the Upper House, was the Leader of the House, when he was a member of the S.M. Krishna Cabinet. He had to make way for Mr. Kharge after the present Government came to power and he was not included in the Ministry during its first expansion. Mr. Kharge is a member of the Legislative Assembly.

But, the Congress might face a problem if the Janata Dal (Secular), its coalition partner stakes a claim and insists on Basavaraj S. Horatti, a five-time MLC, being made the Leader of the House.

Mr. Horatti was first elected to the House in 1980. Mr. Patil was first elected in 1984 though he later functioned as the Leader of the House as well as the Leader of the Opposition.

Both Mr. Patil and Mr. Horatti are from Dharwad district. It is being stated that if the Janata Dal (S) stakes a claim on behalf or Mr. Horatti, it cannot be brushed aside as the chief ministership has gone to the Congress.

Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Patil said in reply to a question that it is the Chief Minister's prerogative as to whether he (Mr. Patil) should replace Mr. Kharge as Leader of the House.

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