Karnataka to hold its next legislature session in Belgaum

The Karnataka Government has decided to hold the winter session of the State legislature in the Belgaum during the last week of September, sending a strong and clear signal to Maharashtra and the Federal Government that the border district was an integral part of Karnataka.

Announcing this in Bangalore, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said the legislature session in Belgaum will be a brief one that will discuss the border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra among other issues.

“By doing this, we will be sending a signal to the Centre (Federal Government) and Maharashtra that Belgaum is an indisputable part of Karnataka and we will do all that we can to protect our claim over Belgaum and other disputed areas in the district”, Kumaraswamy said.

The Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday has already approved the decision to hold a brief session of three to four days in Belgaum and the final schedule will be fixed after Assembly Speaker Krishna, who is abroad attending the commonwealth presiding officers’ conference, returns to Bangalore.

The Karnataka Government’s decision to hold a legislature session in Belgaum assumes significance in the wake of recent developments with respect to inter-state boundary dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Speaking to reporters, Home Minister M P Prakash described the decision to hold a Legislature session in Belgaum as a “historic” one. For, this is the first time a legislature session is being held outside the state capital of Bangalore.

Though the dates for the legislature session will be finalized after Speaker Krishna’s return, Prakash said the session is likely to be held in the last week of September. The high-level committee constituted to look into the demand for holding a legislature session in Belgaum had recommended that the assembly session be held at Kumara Gandharva auditorium and council session be held at Jawarharlal Nehru auditorium of KLE Society in Belgaum.

Government Guest Houses and hotels in and around Belgaum have been identified to accommodate legislators, ministers and officials during the legislature session, Prakash said.
By holding a legislature session in Belgaum, Prakash said the Karnataka Government had set a new precedent that will hopefully pave the way for the Federal Government to hold a Parliament session in Bangalore. A demand in the regard made by former Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde had been pending for a long time, Prakash said.