The Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi. The legislature session is expected to be stormy with the Opposition likely to raise a host of key issues to put the government on the mat.
| Photo Credit: file photo
Though Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar have sent a message that they have reached a truce on the leadership issue through two rounds of the much-publicised breafast meetings, the 10-day Winter Session of the State legislature, beginning from December 6 in Belagavi, is being viewed through the lens of this very issue that still simmers.
In fact, the timing of the declaration by these two leaders that they would abide by the party high command’s decision on leadership issue — that came barely a week ahead of the legislature session — suggests that they are aware of the possible political impact of the tussle in the legislature session. However, there is a clear undercurrent of anxiety and uncertainty among their followers.
The BJP and the Janata Dal (S) are keen to exploit this tension in the session, which is expected to be stormy. The Opposition parties have been blaming the leadership tussle as the main reason for what they call “collapse of administrative machinery”.
Law and order, farmers’ issues
Apart from the leadership tussle, the Opposition has a slew of other issues in its arsenal. The recent incident of a video of the inmates of Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru partying inside going viral, a terror suspect using a mobile phone, recovery of over 50 mobile phones from the Central Prison and police personnel themselves being embroiled in different criminal cases are bound to be taken up in the session by the Opposition which has been accusing the government of “failure to maintain law and order”.
The problems of farmers, particularly the tricky issues related to procurement of maize and other crops besides the issues connected to sugarcane farmers, would also figure in the session with the BJP set to hold a farmers’ protest outside the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha where the session is being held.
Hate speech Bill
The State Cabinet’s clearance for tabling the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill to prevent promotion of hate speech has already ruffled the feathers of the Opposition, which claims that it is being brought to target its leaders. The Bill is expected to face stiff resistance from the Opposition.
As the session is being held in North Karnataka, the Opposition is likely to raise issues related to development of the region, particularly those related to irrigation projects such as the Upper Krishna Project Third Phase and Mahadayi.
Bengaluru focus
With respect to Bengaluru, the Opposition is expected to oppose the controversial tunnel road project, spearheaded by Mr. Shivakumar, and the bad condition of roads. A slew of other issues, including the man-animal conflicts, the SIT probe related to Dharmasthala case and the closure of government schools to merge them with Karnataka Public Schools are also expected to figure in the session.
Published – December 06, 2025 06:25 pm IST
