Karnataka Legislative Council chairperson Basavaraj Horatti, who found himself at the centre of a political storm after Congress MLC Nagaraj Yadav alleged corruption in recent Secretariat recruitments, denied the allegations on Monday and demanded proof.
“I will step down even if one corruption charge is proved against me. If any person is making allegations without proof, he is nothing but a coward,” Horatti, a BJP member, said at a press conference.
Amid speculation that Congress leaders were considering moving a no-confidence motion against him, Horatti left Belagavi—where the Winter Session of the Karnataka legislature is on—for Bengaluru on Monday night, saying his wife was unwell.
Yadav has accused Horatti of irregularities in direct recruitment to various posts in the Secretariat and of failing to initiate action against BJP MLC C T Ravi over the alleged derogatory remark against minister Laxmi Hebbalkar during the 2024 Council session in Belagavi.
Horatti said that 30 members were recruited to the council Secretariat after following due process. “The entire recruitment process was conducted independently by the Karnataka Examination Authority and followed strict merit-based selection criteria,” he added.
Asked to comment on a possible no-confidence motion against him, Horatti said that he would follow the rule book. “Power is not permanent. The House is free to make any decision,” he added, indicating his willingness to face any motion according to rules.
On the Hebbalkar controversy, Horatti showed documents and said that a meeting with both secretaries and advocate general was referred to the ethics committee. “The committee has already held two meetings and is currently deliberating before submitting its report,” he added.
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Meanwhile, Yadav defended his stand and said that his complaint was about the alleged corruption in direct recruitment, and not the KEA process.