With the anti-conversion and anti-cow slaughter bills in the spotlight, the Karnataka Assembly is about to become heated
After the new Siddaramaiah-led Congress administration entered office, the Karnataka Assembly Session is likely to get off to a hot start on Monday with the expected repeal of the anti-conversion legislation, anti-cow slaughter law, and other proposals.
In the meanwhile, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said that it will attend the meeting and criticize the government for not enforcing its election promises one and a half months after it swept to office.
It’s possible that the Congress and BJP would clash over the latter’s inability to pick the leader of the opposition (LoP) until the very last minute owing to party infighting.
However, to choose the LOP face, former chief minister and BJP veteran BS Yediyurappa had a high-level meeting last night with the top brass. He is expected to reveal the name on Monday.
FIRST BUDGET OF CONGRESS FOR KARNATAKA
One significant development is that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who also holds the finance portfolio, will present his budget on July 7—the first since his party won the 2023 Assembly Elections—while the BJP is preparing to criticize the Congress for its “failure” to carry out the five guarantees that were supposed to take effect on the day the government took office.
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot will address the joint session of both chambers of the legislature on Monday and promote the government plans before the Assembly session gets underway.
A SESSION OF THE KARNATAKA ASSEMBLY: WHAT TO EXPECT
The Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022, an anti-conversion legislation that was put into effect by the previous BJP government, is expected to be repealed by a bill that the Siddaramaiah administration would introduce.
Along with another change to the Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation and Development) (change) Act, 2020, the government may also file a bill abolishing the Karnataka Land Reforms (Amendment) Act.
