Legislative Council Speaker Basavaraj Horatti was beatified in Hubulli on Saturday. | Photo credit: Kiran Bakale
Legislative Council Speaker Basavaraj Horatti, who has already created a record for his eighth consecutive victory from the teaching constituency, was accorded a grand and warm felicitation by leaders of various political parties, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, at the Nehru Stadium in Hubballi on Saturday.
In a program organized by Basavaraj Horattii Felicitation Committe, people including Speaker Ut Khader, former Chisish Shettar and Basavaraj Bommai, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi, Labor Minister Santosh Lad, Chief Government Officer, while in the legislative land all praised the committee Salem Ahmed to veh Konarad mla. the cause of learning and his humble nature, he said, won him admiration from his political opponents.
The felicitation was organized to mark the completion of 45 years of Mr. Horatti as an MLC.
Recalling his long association with Mr. Horatti, Mr. Siddaramaiah said his friendship with Mr. Horatti was four decades old and he liked him because he was humble despite winning a record number of victories.
“Mr Horatti is popular for his straightforward nature. As Council President, he carried out his duties with impartiality and thereby enhanced the value of the position,” he said.
Law Minister HK Patil said he admired him for his tireless work for the welfare of teachers. “Teachers love him for his dedication to their welfare and his record eighth win is testament to the same. My father also liked him for his work,” he said, calling Mr. Horatti an “honest worker for teachers.”
Mr. Lad lauded Mr. Horatti’s service to the state and wished Mr. Horatti another term in office, while Mr. Ahmed termed it a rare program where leaders of various political parties came together to honor him.
Mr Shettar recalled how Mr Horatti had fought for teachers for decades. He said Mr. Horatti was credited with consecrating most of the schools and colleges during his tenure as minister. He said that while he and Mr. Joshi managed to defeat Mr. Patil from the graduates’ constituency, they could not do so in the teachers’ constituency. However, Mr. Horatti himself has now joined the BJP fold, he said.
Mr. Bommai said that ‘Horatti Mastar’, as the teachers fondly called him, would not hesitate to fight even with the Chief Ministers for the sake of the teachers, but still maintained a good relationship with them irrespective of political affiliation. “Mr. Horatti is a handsome teacher, an intelligent politician and a sincere fighter,” he said.
Mr Khader said he and others had learned a lot from Mr Horatti and that his fight would be an inspiration to others.
Mr Joshi said the program was a mirror of Mr Horatti’s apolitical persona. “While some leaders have won a record number of victories, Mr. Horatti is unique because he was able to win the hearts of two generations of teachers,” he said.
Responding to the congratulatory message, Mr. Horatti said he was happy for the apolitical nature of the congratulatory message. “I am indebted to your show of love and I promise to repay you with honest service,” he said.
Chairperson of felicitation committee Shankranna Munavalli read the citation while Mr. Siddaramaiah and other dignitaries felicitated Mr. Horatti by showering him with flower petals. The program was attended by a number of legislators, Council Vice Chairman Pranesh and others.
Published – 13 Dec 2025 21:35 IST
