The state Assembly—the prime law making body of Karnataka—has met for only 15 days this year though the State Legislature Act 2005 makes it mandatory to hold sessions for not less than sixty days in a year. With half of the year over, it remains to be seen if the ruling BJP—caught in a power struggle— will be able to ensure that legislators get at least the minimum period for debates and more so with polls hardly 10 months away.
BJP leaders suddenly seem to have realised the need for ensuring that sessions are held as per the norms. The diamond jubilee celebration of the Assembly too saw leaders stressing on the need to improve the quality of debate and for making meaningful decisions on the basis of a consensus—which would not be possible unless the session is convened regularly.
CM Sadananda Gowda has called for at least 60 days of sessions every year while Bengaluru South MP Ananth Kumar went a step further saying he would like to see the legislature meet for at least 100 days. The facts prove that since 1952, legislature business is fast losing its importance. Despite a law - the Karnataka Conduct of Government Business in the State Legislature Act 2005, which makes it mandatory to hold sessions for not less than sixty days in a year, the BJP government has managed to conduct only 31 days of session for two consecutive years - 2010 and 2011. This year, the Legislature has met only for 15 days and has a shortfall of 45 days.
The forthcoming session in July is likely to witness a favourable change, promises the BJP. “We can still have two more sessions before the year concludes,” defends law and parliamentary affairs minister S. Suresh Kumar, adding, “We are duty-bound to conduct 60 days of session.”