Bengaluru, 14 Jan

The Cabinet on Wednesday decided to convene a joint session of the State legislature from January 22 to 31, with a primary focus on the Centre's decision to repeal MGNREGA.

While the Congress government initially planned a two-day special session to discuss the repeal of the Mahatma Gandhi National RuralEmployment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which the Centre replaced with Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB—G RAM G).

State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil explained that the format was changed due to constitutional requirements.

Patil said the government is convening a joint session and not a special session due to a technical reason.

Quoting Article 176 of the Constitution, he said the Governor must address the first session of the State legislature each year. “In view of this technical reason, in fact, we are advancing the session. Instead of a special session, it will be a joint session until further notice…. Holidays will be announced by the Speaker.”

Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka, alleged that the State government has convened the joint session with a "malafide intention" and called it a "sheer waste of money".

He said: “A session is always convened to make laws, discuss law and order, but what is this session convened for? Is it to utter gibberish in the House? There is no use of this session.”

The BJP leader said the resolution passed in the assembly will only be consigned to the dustbin as it has no value.