The upcoming winter session in December (9-20) in Belagavi will be meaningful only if it is held as a full-length session, opined Dr. Prabhakar Kore, Chairman of KLE Society. He emphasized that the original purpose of holding the winter session in Belagavi was to address the region’s issues. However, even after over a decade of such sessions, no significant resolutions have been achieved.
Dr. Kore urged the government to conduct a month-long session dedicated to comprehensive discussions on the region’s challenges. “We need to move beyond mere protests and prioritize development,” he remarked.
The first session was held in 2006 in KLE society’s JNMC hall and 11 sessions have been held in these 17 years.
The Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, constructed in 2012 at a cost of ₹400 crore, was envisioned as a symbol of North Karnataka’s development. However, Dr. Kore expressed disappointment that the annual 10-day sessions have largely failed to serve this purpose, reducing the effort to a superficial exercise.
Dr. Kore pointed out that despite the decade-long history of these sessions, they have not succeeded in addressing the pressing issues of North Karnataka. Additionally, the long-standing demand of constructing legislators’ quarters to accommodate lawmakers during the sessions remains unmet. Legislators’ lack of engagement and the brief duration of sessions are seen as significant hindrances.
He asserted that a full-length session, along with the construction of residential facilities for legislators and staff, is the voice of the people of this region. Conducting extended sessions would allow legislators to address the fundamental problems faced by farmers, laborers, and other marginalized groups.
“If we fail to act now, these sessions will become nothing more than a wasteful and ceremonial exercise,” he warned. Dr. Kore urged the government to honor the efforts behind establishing the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha and transform it into a beacon for resolving North Karnataka’s issues.