Amid leadership tussle in both ruling and opposition ranks, Karnataka legislature session to start on March 3

The opposition is eager to corner the Siddaramaiah-led government on the hike in prices of all essential services, and the bills on regulating micro-finance institutions, and the proposed splitting of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). On the other hand, the Congress is expected to taunt the saffron party over the ‘gross injustice’ to Karnataka by the Centre in devolution of taxes and the tussle over leadership within the Karnataka BJP.

Even as both ruling Congress and the principal opposition BJP are divided over the party leadership, the Budget session of the Karnataka legislature, which will get underway on March 3, is expected to be a turbulent one.

The opposition is eager to corner the Siddaramaiah-led government on the hike in prices of all essential services, and the bills on regulating micro-finance institutions, and the proposed splitting of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). On the other hand, the Congress is expected to taunt the saffron party over the ‘gross injustice’ to Karnataka by the Centre in devolution of taxes and the tussle over leadership within the Karnataka BJP.

The session will commence with the address by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to a joint session of the State legislature. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who holds the Finance portfolio, is scheduled to present his record 16th budget on March 7. The size of the budget is expected to touch ₹4 lakh crore.

The government is expected to table a few prominent Bills, including the Karnataka Micro Loan and Small Loan (Prevention of Coercive Actions) Bill, 2025, for cracking the whip on unregistered and unlicensed micro finance institutions that employ coercive means to recover loans given to poor people. The Bill would replace an ordinance. Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil is expected to introduce amendments to the Karnataka Pawnbrokers Act, 1961, Karnataka Moneylenders Act, 1961, and Karnataka Prohibition of Charging Exorbitant Interest Act, 2004.

At the centre of the debate would be the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024, which proposes to split the BBMP. A joint legislature committee, headed by Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad, submitted its report to Assembly Speaker U. T. Khader recommending revision of the Bill. The BJP and JD(S) have been accusing the government of dividing the city and damaging ‘Brand Bengaluru’.

Instead of passing the Bill, the opposition is expected to press for a debate on the findings of the report given by the 13-member legislature panel.

As the government has proposed to close nine universities, the opposition is all set to oppose the Bill that proposes to set up an integrated agriculture and horticulture university in Mandya.