The Congress government made it clear that the Opposition should submit a notice seeking a debate on its demand.
| Photo Credit: File photo
The stalemate in the Karnataka Legislature over the demand by the Opposition BJP-JD(S) combine for the resignation of Minister B. Nagendra entered the second day on Tuesday, with Opposition members indulging in high-decibel protests marked by non-stop sloganeering in both Houses.
As soon as the Assembly met after lunch, BJP and JD(S) members sported black shawls to express their dissatisfaction over Mr. Nagendra, who has been chargesheeted by the CBI and the ED, continuing in the Ministry. They said there was no question of withdrawing the protest until Mr. Nagendra stepped down.
The Congress government made it clear that the Opposition should submit a notice seeking a debate on its demand. Speaker G.T. Patil too asked the Opposition to abide by the rules by submitting a notice seeking a discussion.
However, displaying copies of the charge sheets filed against Mr. Nagendra by the CBI, BJP leader R. Ashok alleged that huge funds meant for the welfare of Scheduled Tribe communities under the Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation had been siphoned off through 600 bank accounts.
Terming the government “anti-Dalit”, he demanded that Mr. Nagendra be sacked.
Objecting to this, Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda accused Opposition members of levelling allegations without the permission of the Chair and maintained that it amounted to a breach of Mr. Nagendra’s privileges.
Mr. Gowda urged Opposition members not to disrupt the proceedings of the Legislature to further their “political interests.”
At this stage, the Speaker asked members to take up a discussion on drought based on a notice submitted by JD(S) member H.D. Revanna. This irked the Opposition members, and Mr. Ashok urged the government to demonstrate its commitment by sacking Mr. Nagendra so that a debate on drought could be initiated.
He also accused the government of showing mere lip sympathy towards drought-hit areas without even declaring a drought or releasing drought relief.
This triggered a heated exchange, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for some time.
Later, when the House reassembled, the government asserted itself by not only continuing with the day’s agenda, including Question Hour and Zero Hour, but also taking up an additional agenda under which three Bills were tabled amid the din created by protesting members, before the House was adjourned for the day.
In the Legislative Council too, Question Hour was taken up amid protests by Opposition members demanding Mr. Nagendra’s resignation. Chairman Saleem Ahmed said that, as per Rule 303 of the Karnataka Legislative Council, posters and placards cannot be displayed in the House, and instructed marshals not to allow them from Wednesday.
Published – August 18, 2026 09:08 pm IST
