Congress faces contempt allegations over Karnataka Council appointments

Narayanaswamy directed his criticism at AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and General Secretary KC Venugopal, arguing that the decision to name candidates through a political forum rather than a floor vote is illegal and immoral. He demanded the resignation of Kharge and the dismissal of Venugopal, whose signature appeared on the controversial directive. The opposition leader maintained that such key constitutional roles must be determined by the members of the Council themselves, not party high commands.

The standoff intensified following comments from the current Chairman, Basavaraj Shivalingappa Horatti. He alleged that Chief Minister DK Shivakumar pressured him to vacate his seat, citing demands from the Congress leadership. Horatti described the move as an unprecedented attempt to hijack the legislative process, noting that the House holds the sole authority to elect its own leadership. The controversy follows a recent party reshuffle where Congress cleared appointments for the Assembly Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and various other leadership positions, sparking broader concerns regarding the independence of these constitutional offices.