The short window of the current session — the first for the 15th Legislative Assembly — has had many in the Opposition upset. While the session started on July 2, it is scheduled to end on Thursday, giving only nine working days for legislators to participate in discussions.
Apart from questions taken during the Question Hour and the Zero Hour, this session has accommodated discussions on the Governor’s address to the joint session and the State Budget as well. While discussion on the Governor’s speech has been completed, discussion on the budget is under way.
On Wednesday, Deputy Leader of the Opposition Govind Karjol said the time given for discussion was limited, and that the session should be extended to enable members to participate in the deliberations. “A minimum of 15 days has to be set aside for discussions. Convene the BAC (Business Advisory Committee) meeting to take a decision to extend the session and we will support it,” he said.
The issue came up for discussion as Deputy Speaker M. Krishna Reddy, who was in the chair officiating the House, asked Mr. Karjol to finish his speech on the budget as several other members were yet to speak and cited paucity of time.
The former Minister K.S. Eshwarappa said, “I have never seen a short session in which discussion on the Governor speech and discussion on the budget are taken up.”
Bagalkot ignored?
Mr. Karjol sought to know if Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has ignored Bagalkot because the former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been elected from Badami in Bagalkot district. “Though people of Mysuru voted against the former Chief Minister, Badami people voted for him. Is it because Mr. Siddaramaiah won from Badami that the district has got a big zero in the budget?” Mr. Karjol said.
