Basavaraj Horatti is considered the senior-most member of the Legislative Council. (file)
Bangalore:
Senior politician Basavaraj Horatti, who recently resigned as the Karnataka Legislative Council Speaker and Member of Legislative Council (MLC), joined the BJP on Wednesday.
He joined the party in the presence of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, BJP National General Secretary CT Ravi, Ministers R Ashok, Govind Karjol, CC Patil among others.
“Basavaraj Horatti has been a member of the Legislative Council for almost 45 years and has served as its chairman and minister. He is a leader with much experience, much respect and has been working for teachers. After taking the decision To join BJP, he met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and resigned from his post and has officially joined the party today.”
Talking to reporters after welcoming the senior leader, he said that BJP is soon organizing a huge program in Hubli to induct him into the party.
He said, “His joining has strengthened the party. No one has the record of being MLC for so long across the country. It has strengthened the party especially in the North Karnataka region. We will use his experience.” And give him the full chance. The opportunity and respect he deserves,” he said.
Simultaneously, Mr. Horatti, who has been elected as MLC for seven consecutive terms since 1980, has ended his long association with the JD(S).
He is likely to be fielded as a BJP candidate for the upcoming MLC elections from the West Teachers’ Constituency.
The 76-year-old, considered the most senior MLC, was seen as a prominent Lingayat face of the JD(S) in northern Karnataka.
He was the education minister in the state, and was elected as the chairman of the Legislative Council in February 2021.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)