BELAGAVI: Karnataka legislature’s winter session in Belagavi achieved a remarkable feat on Monday by holding proceedings for 15 consecutive hours, breaking a decade-old record. The session, which began at 10 am, extended late into the night, concluding at 12:55 am.
The extended session saw active participation from key leaders, including three state ministers, seven Congress MLAs, four JD(S) legislators, one BJP MLA, and an independent member. Speaker UT Khader and Deputy Speaker Rudrappa Lamani oversaw the session, which ran uninterrupted except for a lunch break and brief adjournments due to disruptions.
This new record surpasses the previous longest session, which was held from 2009-2013 under Speaker KG Bopaiah and ended at 1:45 am. Speaker Khader expressed satisfaction over the unprecedented duration, while Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi emphasized its significance. Revenue Minister Krishna Byregowda and Higher Education Minister Dr MC Sudhakar also remained present throughout.
The assembly successfully passed five bills, followed by calling attention matters, with members eagerly competing to present their issues. JDS MLA Karemma G Naik from Devadurga patiently waited for her turn, while Indi MLA Yashvantaraygoud V Patil graciously offered his speaking slot to her.
The session was initially scheduled for 10 days but was shortened due to the 87th Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in Mandya on December 20th and a one-day suspension following the demise of former Chief Minister SM Krishna. To make up for the reduced schedule, the assembly extended its working hours, culminating in the record-breaking session on Monday.