Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Karnataka Assembly Briefly Adjourned After Opposition Protests Empty Treasury Benches
The Karnataka Assembly began a session with many seats on the government side empty.
Opposition lawmakers said ministers should be present for important discussions.
They asked the Speaker to pause the meeting for ten minutes.
Government lawmakers said the session should continue because other ministers would arrive later.
The disagreement also delayed congratulations for actor Anant Nag.
Nag had received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
The Speaker eventually paused the Assembly.
When it resumed, lawmakers congratulated Nag and discussed his work in cinema.
The BJP and JD(S) objected after most Karnataka treasury benches were empty at the start of proceedings.
Opposition leaders demanded a brief adjournment and urged ministers to attend the Assembly.
Only Ministers Krishna Byre Gowda and Santosh Lad were initially present, according to the report.
The dispute delayed a congratulatory motion for actor Anant Nag receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
The Speaker adjourned the House temporarily, after which legislators from all parties praised Nag’s contribution to cinema.
- Who
- The Karnataka opposition, including the BJP and JD(S), challenged the ruling side over the absence of ministers and lawmakers.
- What
- The Assembly was briefly adjourned after opposition members protested that the treasury benches were largely empty.
- When
- Wednesday, at the start of the day’s Assembly proceedings; the House later resumed.
- Where
- The Karnataka Legislative Assembly in Bengaluru.
- Why
- The opposition wanted ministers present for discussions on the drought and the Kasturirangan report, and objected to beginning proceedings with empty treasury benches.
Opposition Position
Ruling Side Position
Whether to adjourn
Opposition Position
The BJP and JD(S) demanded a brief adjournment to send a strong message and bring more ministers into the House.
Ruling Side Position
Ruling-party members and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Krishna Byre Gowda argued that proceedings should begin and ministers would attend subsequently.
Congratulating Anant Nag
Opposition Position
Opposition Leader R Ashoka said the Assembly should first address the absence of ministers and that congratulating Nag with empty benches would show disrespect.
Ruling Side Position
The ruling side urged legislators to begin the motion immediately and congratulate Nag together.
‘Payment Ministers’ remark
Opposition Position
Ashoka used the phrase while criticizing ministers who were absent from the Assembly.
Ruling Side Position
Congress MLAs objected to the phrase and asked Ashoka to identify the ministers he was referring to; a ruling MLA later requested that it be expunged.
- Location
- Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Issue
- Empty treasury benches at the beginning of Assembly proceedings
- Opposition parties
- Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular)
- Ministers initially present
- Krishna Byre Gowda and Santosh Lad
- Requested adjournment
- Opposition leaders sought a ten-minute or brief adjournment
- Delayed business
- A congratulatory motion for Anant Nag
- Session topics cited
- The state drought and the Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats eco-sensitive zones
- Outcome
- The Speaker temporarily adjourned the House, which later resumed and passed the congratulatory proceedings