BJPs Ashoka urges Karnataka Speaker not to curtail Budget session
Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka on Monday urged the Speaker not to allow the ongoing Budget session of the legislature to be curtailed, amid indications of such a move, in the wake of bypolls to two Assembly segments in the State.
Ashoka, a senior BJP leader, said that there are indications the session may be curtailed and urged Speaker UT Khader not to allow it. As the House met for the day, Ashoka said, “We wanted to discuss Bengaluru’s issues, but no one is here. Neither the Chief Minister nor the Deputy Chief Minister is present. What should we do?”
Speaker Khader replied, “Let them come; the matter can be taken up after that.”
To this, Ashoka asked whether they would come and that he had “doubts” about that. “There are indications the Government may curtail the session. Please don’t allow it to happen.” The Speaker then said that any such decision would be taken after discussing with the Opposition leader. To this, Ashoka said there was no need for any discussion and that “let the session be held as per schedule.”
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, Labour Minister Santosh Lad admitted there were indications the session might be curtailed.
“The legislative session has been on for three weeks. Despite holidays in between, the session has been held for the minimum number of days. I don’t have complete information about what the Opposition, the Chief Minister and the Speaker will decide. But such indications are there,” he said in response to a question.
The State legislature’s Budget session, which began on March 6 with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah presenting the Budget for 2026-27, is scheduled to conclude on March 27.
Two Assembly segments in the State — Bagalkot and Davangere South — will go to bypolls on April 9. Since Monday is the last date for filing nominations for the bypolls, both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar are visiting those segments to accompany Congress candidates while filing their papers.
