BANGALORE: The Government will find an amicable solution to end the stalemate arising out of the delay in electing the Chairman of the Legislative Council, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has said.

He told presspersons after holding a meeting with Opposition here on Thursday that both the Government and the Opposition were keen that the business of the House was conducted smoothly. The Opposition leaders had explained their point of view. The Government needed time to mull over certain points raised by the Opposition. The Government would convene another meeting to ending the stalemate, he said.

`No progress'

Later, Leader of the Opposition in the Council H.K. Patil told presspersons that the meeting did not make much progress. The Government had cited in its defence a similar situation that had arisen in the Rajya Sabha. But the ongoing dispute in the Council was a complex one. It involved constitutional and political questions on the duties, the responsibilities and the authority of the Chairman. The powers of the Chairman could not be delegated to others, including the Deputy Chairman or members of the panel of presiding officers, he argued.

Apart from Mr. Kumaraswamy and Mr. Patil, others who attended the meeting were Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, Minister for Home and Parliamentary Affairs M.P. Prakash, Minister for Higher Education D.H. Shankaramurthy, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly N. Dharam Singh, the former Minister M. Mallikarjun Kharge and the former Chairman of the Council V.R. Sudarshan.

The impasse over the constitutional validity of N. Thippanna officiating as Chairman of the Council continued on Thursday, resulting in the House being adjourned for the day once again without any listed business being transacted.

When the House assembled at 12.30 p.m. Leader of the House D.H. Shankaramurthy suggested that the Chair allow a discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the Governor for his address to the joint session of the legislature. Question Hour could be put off, as a majority of the Opposition members were yet to arrive.

Suggestion opposed

But Pratapchandra Shetty of the Congress opposed the suggestion and said the Chair had no right to conduct the business of the House until the dispute over the election of the Chairman was solved.

Mr. Thippanna asked Mr. Shetty to allow the House to conduct its business. When the member refused to heed his plea, Mr. Thippanna said, "This is the Upper House. Do not speak rubbish. I can no longer tolerate this impudence. I will send you out of the House."

Even as Mr. Thippanna was warning him, Opposition members rushed into the House in support of Mr. Shetty and continued their argument that the Government should facilitate the election of the Chairman.

Mr. Thippanna adjourned the House for 30 minutes because of the commotion.

When the House reassembled at 1.15 p.m., Mr. Thippanna asked M.P. Nadagouda of the Janata Dal (United) to place his question before the House. But Dr. Nadagouda rushed to the well of the House pleading that he could not speak because of the din. Some of the Opposition members also stood up and began arguing with Mr. Thippanna, who then adjourned the House for the day.

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