JDS' Basavaraj Horatti backed by BJP elected Karnataka Council chairperson amid Cong protest

News Network

February 9, 2021

Bengaluru, Feb 9: JD(S) MLC Basavaraj Horatti was elected as the new Chairperson of the Karnataka Legislative Council on Tuesday defeating Congress candidate.

The election took place in the midst of Congress leaders staging a protest in the Well of the House, against the passing of the Prevention of Cow Slaughter Bill. Congress argued that the Bill was passed in an 'undemocratic' manner overlooking their demand for the division of votes.

Notwithstanding their protest, the election was announced.

Even though Congress had fielded Naseer Ahmed, the party leaders refused to take part in the election process. As a result, the House declared Horatti as 'unanimously' elected.

Horatti was escorted to the Chairperson's seat and he took charge to his new post amidst a din. Congress leaders continued to stand in the Well of the House throughout the proceedings.

Horatti is a seven-time MLC, consecutively elected from Teachers' Constituency (West) since 1980. He has also served as the Science and Technology and Rural Development Minister in the Congress and JD(S) coalition government in 2004.

Later, in the 2006 BJP-JD(S) coalition, he held the Primary and Secondary Education, and Law and Parliamentary Affairs portfolios. He was nominated as pro-tem Chairperson of the Council for a brief period, during the Congress-JD(S) coalition in 2018.

In the 75 member house, BJP has strength of 31, Congress 28, JD(S) 13 one independent and one vacant.

BJP and JD(S) joined hands to defeat Congress candidate. The post fell vacant as Pratap Chand of Congress resigned after the ruling BJP moved a no confidence motion against him.

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Mangaluru’s KPT becomes India’s first autonomous govt polytechnic

News Network

January 23,2026

Mangaluru: The Karnataka Government Polytechnic (KPT), Mangaluru, has achieved autonomous status from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), becoming the first government polytechnic in the country to receive such recognition in its 78-year history. The status was granted by AICTE, New Delhi, and subsequently approved by the Karnataka Board of Technical Education in October last year.

Officials said the autonomy was conferred a few months ago. Until recently, AICTE extended autonomous status only to engineering colleges, excluding diploma institutions. However, with a renewed national focus on skill development, several government polytechnics across India have now been granted autonomy.

KPT, the second-largest polytechnic in Karnataka, was established in 1946 with four branches and has since expanded to offer eight diploma programmes, including computer science and polymer technology. The institution is spread across a 19-acre campus.

Ravindra M Keni, the first dean of the institution, told The Times of India that AICTE had proposed autonomous status for polytechnic institutions that are over 25 years old. “Many colleges applied. In the first round, 100 institutions were shortlisted, which was further narrowed down to 15 in the second round. We have already completed one semester after becoming an autonomous institution,” he said. He added that nearly 500 students are admitted annually across eight three-year diploma courses.

Explaining the factors that helped KPT secure autonomy, Keni said the institution has consistently recorded 100 per cent admissions and placements for its graduates. He also noted its strong performance in sports, with the college emerging champions for 12 consecutive years, along with active student participation in NCC and NSS activities.

Autonomous status allows KPT to design industry-oriented curricula, conduct examinations, prepare question papers, and manage academic documentation independently. The institution can also directly collaborate with industries and receive priority funding from AICTE or the Ministry of Education. While academic autonomy has been granted, financial control will continue to rest with the state government.

“There will be separate committees for examinations, question paper setting, boards of studies, and boards of examiners. The institution will now have the freedom to conduct admissions without government notifications and issue its own marks cards,” Keni said, adding that new academic initiatives would be planned after a year of functioning under the autonomous framework.

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