After serving as Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council for eight years, veteran BJP leader D.H. Shankaramurthy will be demitting office on Thursday when his tenure of the House membership also comes to an end. He took over as the 22nd Chairman and had the longest term so far. Seventy-eight-year-old Mr. Shankaramurthy was first elected to the House in 1988, and won five consecutive elections from the South-West Graduates’ constituency. During his long political career, he served as the Higher Education Minister and was also the Planning Board Deputy Chairman. Excerpts from an interview:
Over the last three decades, what have your observations been on functioning of the House?
In the 1980s, Houses would run for 78 to 80 days in a year. It started coming down as some governments did not want discussions in the House. They wanted Bills and budgets to be passed urgently. Latest was the last session (in the previous Congress government) when the session was cut short by four days. Though the statutory requirement is to meet for 60 working days, we meet for 37 to 40 days, and we have not included (in the statute) what happens when it is not followed. More time is needed to discuss the problems of people.
Do you feel the quality of debates and discussions have declined?
If given an opportunity, House members have the calibre to participate in good discussions. I have given an opportunity to 46-47 members (out of the total 75) to speak on Bills. However, the tolerance level among members has come down these days. Earlier, nobody would intervene or interrupt when a member spoke. Now, there is no patience to listen. Disruptions have become common on frivolous grounds. Since the House meets for a short duration, everyone wants an opportunity.
The Upper House is often used to rehabilitate leaders who have lost elections.
It is not good to look like a rehabilitation centre, but it has become one. Law has provided to accommodate people who have excelled in fields of literature, music and others. But it has also given an option to nominate social workers. This category is being misused.
What was a low you witnessed in the House?
When an attempt was made to remove me (in June 2017). In democracy, there are grounds for removal. There should have been a mistake that should not have been done or politically, I lose support. I met the Chief Minister and offered to resign if any one of the reasons was proved. There was no need for voting and the whole process was a mistake. I allowed voting to escape allegations.
What are your future plans?
I’m not retiring from politics, but from electoral politics. Age is not on my side. I will take any responsibility given by the party. I will go back to Shivamogga where my family resides.
