Legislature session likely after June 15, Council chairman

B D Narayankar reports

Bangalore, May 8 (PTI): The month-long monsoon session of the state legislature is likely to be held after June 15, Legislative Council Chairman D H Shankaramurthy said today. 

"Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has told me that the government will for the first time hold a 30 working day legislature session. It is likely to be held after June 15," he told reporters here. 

Shankaramurthy said the renovation work, which was taken up to give a new and modern touch to the majestic Council Hall, will be completed by June 12. 

"All civil and electrical works would be completed by June 12 and the renovated hall would be ready to host the monsoon session," he said. 

The Public Works Department had invited tenders for taking up renovation work, which included installation of the latest electrical and audio-video systems, Shankaramurthy said. Renovation work was pending for the last two years. 

Latest earphones and lighting system would be installed as per specifications, he said. 

To a query, he said the Election Commission will announce the dates for conducting polls to the Upper House. The process of elections and nominations will be held to choose 16 MLCs, of which three are already vacant and the rest will fall vacant by June end. 

Former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda of BJP and former Union Minister M V Rajasekaran of Congress are retiring. In the 75-member strong Council, BJP has 39 members including Shankaramurthy, Congress 19, JD(S) 12, Independents 2 and three vacant posts. 

Of the 13 retiring members, nine are from BJP, three from JD(S) and one from Congress, he said. Of 16 vacancies, seven members will be elected from the assembly, five members would be nominated by the government, and four seats, two each from graduate and teachers' constituency, will witness an electoral battle, Shankarmurthy said.