Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Council K.S. Eshwarappa has said that Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Kagodu Thimmappa has never exceeded his brief and he is functioning within the framework of the Constitution.
The statement of Mr. Eshwarappa has come in the backdrop of veteran Congress leader B. Janaradhana Poojary expressing displeasure over Mr. Thimmappa’s alleged frequent outbursts against the style of functioning of the State government.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Mr. Eshwarappa said it was the responsibility of the Speaker to ensure that the members of both the ruling as well as the Opposition parties functioned within the Constitutional framework. By cautioning the government against its lapses, Mr. Thimmappa had discharged his responsibilities. It was unfortunate that the Congress leaders were trying to make an issue out of it, Mr. Eshwarappa said.
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Referring to Bharatiya Janata Party national president Amit Shah’s call to free Karnataka from the Congress rule, he said the party would not try to destablise the Congress government in the State. The Congress rule in the State would end owing to factionalism that prevailed within its ranks. If a mid-term election were to be declared for the State Assembly, then the BJP had made the necessary preparations to face it, he said.
Mr. Eshwarappa urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to drop Minister for Excise Sathish Jarkiholi from the Cabinet for his recent statements in favour of sugar factories.