Presence of MLCs in Assembly Raises Questions of Impropriety

Gabriel Vaz
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Oct 11: Even as the opposition Congress and JD(S) members as well as the 16 'disqualified' MLAs have been crying hoarse about the irregularity in chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s BJP Government, the questions about the propriety of the members of the Legislative Council in the State Legislative Assembly during the floor test.

At least three MLCs – ministers G Janardhana Reddy, V Somanna and C H Vijayashankar – were present in the Assembly when the chief minister moved the motion seeking the confidence of the House in the council of ministers headed by him and got it passed by voice vote.

From left: Janardhan Reddy, C H Vijayashankar, V Somanna

Though technically the Upper House members are entitled to participate in the proceedings in both houses of the State legislature by virtue of being ministers and even ruling party and opposition members are eligible to attend the proceedings in the Lower House during joint sessions, members of the Legislative Council cannot be present in the Assembly when the House has been summoned for the specific purpose of the floor test.
               
Thus, the presence of Janardhana Reddy, Somanna and Vijayashankar during the Assembly session raises the question of propriety.
               
The Governor is also expected to take note of this and other irregularities in the Assembly proceedings when Yeddyurappa managed to get the trust vote in his favour by voice vote in his report to the Centre.
               
Another objectionable point is the presence of the Bangalore City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari in full uniform along with several policemen in the Assembly.
               
Congress leader and former chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council V R Sudarshan termed the Assembly session as "highly irregular and improper" where the prescribed rules and norms were not followed.

Former chief minister and State JD(S) president H D Kumaraswamy and Congress opposition leader and former Deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah have raised objections to the presence of MLCs in the Assembly and termed as the 'black chapter' in the history of Karnataka legislature.
              
Meanwhile, Forest minister Vijayashankar and his two other cabinet colleagues Janardhana Reddy and Somanna have clarified that they had attended the Assembly proceedings by virtue of their position as ministers and not as members of the Legislative Council.
              
"We had not attended the Assembly session as MLCs but only as ministers, which we are entitled to," Vijayashankar said.
              
Congress leader and former Assembly Speaker Ramesh Kumar felt that the ministers, who are members of the Upper House, can attend the proceedings in the Assembly. But they cannot take part in the voting when the Division Bell is pressed for counting of votes, he contended.

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