The Karnataka legislature achieved a new milestone on Monday with a marathon session at Suvarna Vidhan Soudha in Belagavi, lasting nearly 15 hours. Proceedings began at 10:40 AM and concluded at 12:53 AM, marking one of the longest sessions in recent years. Speaker UT Khader and Deputy Speaker Rudrappa Lamani presided over the session, which continued late into the night despite brief adjournments for lunch and disruptions in the evening.
The session, originally planned for 10 days, was reduced to 8 due to the Kannada Literature Conference in Mandya and a condolence day for former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna. To make up for lost time, Thursday’s proceedings were extended until 10:15 PM, but Monday’s session set a new record, surpassing even the previous longest session held between 2009 and 2013 under Speaker K.G. Bopaiah, which ended at 1:45 AM.
Key leaders, including Revenue Minister Krishna Byregowda, Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi, and Higher Education Minister Dr. M.C. Sudhakar, actively participated in the extended proceedings. The assembly successfully passed five bills and addressed multiple public concerns, with legislators eagerly taking turns to present their issues. JD(S) MLA Karemma G. Naik from Devadurga waited patiently for her turn, while Indi MLA Yashvantaraygoud V. Patil offered her his speaking slot.
As some MLAs considered leaving, Speaker Khader humorously convinced them to stay, saying, “You sit and watch cricket matches till midnight, don’t you?” The cooperation from both ruling and opposition members ensured the session’s success, compensating for the shortened schedule.
The marathon session reflects the legislature’s commitment to addressing critical issues despite time constraints, setting a remarkable record in Karnataka’s legislative history.
