Karnataka Winter Session: What are the key Bills to be tabled?

Winter session of Karnataka legislature to witness intense political developments, protests, and key legislation discussions in Belagavi.

With the winter session of the Karnataka legislature commencing on Monday (December 9, 2024), the next two weeks are bound to witness intense poltical developments both inside and outside the Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi.

Despite being bouyed by its recent victory in the byelections to three Assembly seats, the ruling Congress is expecting charged face-offs with the Opposition around the MUDA case, the Waqf land row, the death of five lactating mothers in Ballari, among other issues. Meanwhile the BJP’s internal squabbles and groupism continue to remained unresolved.

Belagavi is also bracing itself for a series of protests during the session, with as many as 64 organisations submitting requests seeking permission to protest in front of the Suvarna Soudha. The organisations include Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Hasiru Sene, Panchamasali reservation agitation committee, KSRTC Workers Union, and scores of others.

The session will also be keenly watched for key pieces of legislation that will come up for dicussion. According to Speaker U.T. Khader the Assembly Secretariat had received 3,004 questions, 205 call attention motions, and discussions under rules 96 and 351. Requests for three private member Bills too had been received. The five important Bills expected to be tabled include:

1. Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University (Amendment) Bill, 2024

This contentious Bill proposes to replace the Governor with the Chief Minister as the Chancellor of the university. This is the first Bill to be tabled to clip the Governor’s role in the university affairs and could lead to another round of confrontation between the government and Raj Bhavan.

2. Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2024