Bengaluru, Mar 2 – The Karnataka legislature's first session of the year, which begins on Monday, is expected to be a highly charged affair with divisions both within the ruling Congress and opposition BJP. A range of important issues, including key bills, price hikes, and leadership disputes, will dominate discussions.
The 15-day session will kick off with an address by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to a joint sitting of the state legislature at Vidhana Soudha. One of the major highlights will be Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's presentation of the 2025-26 state budget on March 7. The proposed budget, which is set to total Rs 4 lakh crore, marks an increase from the current fiscal year's Rs 3.71 lakh crore.
However, the session is also likely to witness a continuing political storm within the ruling Congress party, with speculations around a possible leadership change. The "rotational chief minister" or "power-sharing" formula has raised questions regarding the future leadership of the state, especially as Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar emerges as a key contender for the CM position. Supporters of Siddaramaiah, however, are firm in their assertion that the current CM will continue in office.
On the opposition side, there is growing unrest within the BJP, particularly regarding the leadership of state unit president B Y Vijayendra. Despite these internal divisions, the BJP, along with its ally JD(S), has pledged to present a united front in opposing the government on several fronts.
Rising Prices and Allegations Against the Government
Price hikes are expected to take center stage during the session. The opposition is likely to target the Congress government over recent increases in fares for state-run buses and the Bengaluru Metro. Additionally, proposed hikes in milk prices and water tariffs are expected to stir controversy.
The opposition has also accused the government of burdening the public with taxes due to the implementation of its five guarantee schemes. They have raised concerns over the alleged diversion of funds intended for the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan to support these schemes.
Further tension is expected following the Karnataka Lokayukta's recent clean chit to the Chief Minister and his wife regarding the alleged MUDA site allotment scam. This may also be brought up for discussion in the legislature.
Law and Order Concerns
Law and order will also be a point of contention, particularly in light of recent incidents such as the tensions in Mysuru's Udayagiri and the assault on a state-run bus conductor in Belagavi. The latter case escalated into a cross-border issue between Karnataka and Maharashtra after the conductor was reportedly harassed for not speaking Marathi.
Opposition's Focus on Federal Issues
The Congress-led government is expected to counter the opposition by highlighting alleged injustices faced by Karnataka at the hands of the central government. The ruling party will focus on the unequal devolution of taxes, a proposed delimitation exercise that they argue would negatively affect southern states, and delays in clearances for key development and irrigation projects in the state.
Key Bills on the Agenda
Several significant bills are set to be tabled during the session. One of the most anticipated is the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, which proposes the division of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) into multiple corporations. This bill is expected to spark heated debates, with BJP and JD(S) accusing the Congress of attempting to "divide" Bengaluru. The delay in holding BBMP elections is also likely to be criticized.
Another bill expected to make its way through the legislature is the Karnataka Micro Loan and Small Loan (Prevention of Coercive Actions) Bill, 2025. This bill aims to protect borrowers from harassment by microfinance institutions (MFIs) and strengthen measures against unregistered or unlicensed MFIs.
Lastly, the delay in releasing the Socio-Economic and Education Survey report, often referred to as the 'caste census', will likely be a topic of discussion, with the opposition questioning the government's hesitance to present the findings.
As the session unfolds, it is clear that Karnataka’s legislature will be a battleground for political and policy debates, with numerous contentious issues expected to keep both sides on their toes.
The 15-day session will kick off with an address by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to a joint sitting of the state legislature at Vidhana Soudha. One of the major highlights will be Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's presentation of the 2025-26 state budget on March 7. The proposed budget, which is set to total Rs 4 lakh crore, marks an increase from the current fiscal year's Rs 3.71 lakh crore.
However, the session is also likely to witness a continuing political storm within the ruling Congress party, with speculations around a possible leadership change. The "rotational chief minister" or "power-sharing" formula has raised questions regarding the future leadership of the state, especially as Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar emerges as a key contender for the CM position. Supporters of Siddaramaiah, however, are firm in their assertion that the current CM will continue in office.
On the opposition side, there is growing unrest within the BJP, particularly regarding the leadership of state unit president B Y Vijayendra. Despite these internal divisions, the BJP, along with its ally JD(S), has pledged to present a united front in opposing the government on several fronts.
Rising Prices and Allegations Against the Government
Price hikes are expected to take center stage during the session. The opposition is likely to target the Congress government over recent increases in fares for state-run buses and the Bengaluru Metro. Additionally, proposed hikes in milk prices and water tariffs are expected to stir controversy.
The opposition has also accused the government of burdening the public with taxes due to the implementation of its five guarantee schemes. They have raised concerns over the alleged diversion of funds intended for the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan to support these schemes.
Further tension is expected following the Karnataka Lokayukta's recent clean chit to the Chief Minister and his wife regarding the alleged MUDA site allotment scam. This may also be brought up for discussion in the legislature.
Law and Order Concerns
Law and order will also be a point of contention, particularly in light of recent incidents such as the tensions in Mysuru's Udayagiri and the assault on a state-run bus conductor in Belagavi. The latter case escalated into a cross-border issue between Karnataka and Maharashtra after the conductor was reportedly harassed for not speaking Marathi.
Opposition's Focus on Federal Issues
The Congress-led government is expected to counter the opposition by highlighting alleged injustices faced by Karnataka at the hands of the central government. The ruling party will focus on the unequal devolution of taxes, a proposed delimitation exercise that they argue would negatively affect southern states, and delays in clearances for key development and irrigation projects in the state.
Key Bills on the Agenda
Several significant bills are set to be tabled during the session. One of the most anticipated is the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, which proposes the division of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) into multiple corporations. This bill is expected to spark heated debates, with BJP and JD(S) accusing the Congress of attempting to "divide" Bengaluru. The delay in holding BBMP elections is also likely to be criticized.
Another bill expected to make its way through the legislature is the Karnataka Micro Loan and Small Loan (Prevention of Coercive Actions) Bill, 2025. This bill aims to protect borrowers from harassment by microfinance institutions (MFIs) and strengthen measures against unregistered or unlicensed MFIs.
Lastly, the delay in releasing the Socio-Economic and Education Survey report, often referred to as the 'caste census', will likely be a topic of discussion, with the opposition questioning the government's hesitance to present the findings.
As the session unfolds, it is clear that Karnataka’s legislature will be a battleground for political and policy debates, with numerous contentious issues expected to keep both sides on their toes.
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