From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Jul 11: A South African Parliament delegation led by National Assembly Speaker M V Sisulu called on Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman D H Shankaramuthy and visited the State Secretariate on Wednesday.

The visit of the South African parliamentary delegation comes on a day when the State’s chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda resigned his post within 11 months of assuming power and the legislators are busy in lobbying for ministerial berths as the new chief minister Jagadish Shettar is scheduled to be sworn in on Thursday.

The South African parliamentary delegation held discussions with some of members of the State Legislative Council on issues related to law making powers and participation of women in the democracy.

The delegation visited halls of the State Legislative Assembly and Council and collected information about law making process and relationship with the federal government.

Under the current constitution of the country, Sisulu said thw South Africa’s legislature consists of the National Council and National Council of Provinces. The strength of the National Assembly is 400 and the Council of Provinces is 100. The country’s electorate elects members of both houses.

M J Mahlangu, National Council of Provinces chairperson, said the country’s legislatures has been functioning well for the last few years and issues related to the country get focussed during the debate in the National Assembly as well as the Council of Provinces.

The South African Legislature meets four times a year and holds the session for 45 days. Both Houses of legislature have equal powers in matters related to finance and other subjects.

State Legislative Council Chairman D H Shankaramurthy exchanged greetings with members and appealed to them to extend their stay in Karnataka for a few more days to enable them to visit Mysore and other historical places.