Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot declined to deliver the customary address at the joint session of the legislature set to commence on January 22. This decision has put the state government in a challenging position as it gears up to confront the Centre over the VB-G RAM G Act. Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs H.K. Patil mentioned that the Governor objected to certain aspects of the state government’s prepared speech.
Reacting to the Governor’s refusal, Patil expressed the government’s intention to discuss the speech’s provisions with him. He emphasized the importance of retaining elements concerning the state’s social and economic conditions. The state government’s stance on MGNREGA was also highlighted in the Governor’s speech, as confirmed by Patil.
Despite the Governor’s refusal to deliver the speech, Patil affirmed that the session would proceed as planned. A delegation comprising Advocate General A.J. Shashi Kiran Shetty and Congress MLA A.S. Ponnanna, who serves as the Legal Advisor to the Chief Minister, will meet with the Governor to address the matter.
Governor Thawarchand Gehlot’s decision not to deliver the speech has led to a constitutional crisis for the state government. Traditionally, the Governor addresses the joint session of the Legislature at the start of the New Year. Sources revealed that the Governor objected to specific aspects of the state government’s speech, particularly related to the VB RAM G Act and criticisms of the Centre over MGNREGA.
The Governor raised concerns about the state government’s alleged use of his address for political purposes against the Centre. He urged the Chief Secretary to prepare a speech that avoids embarrassing the Central government. The state government has allocated two days for discussing the VB RAM G Act and the scrapping of MGNREGA, with plans to pass a resolution condemning the Centre during the session.
