The winter session of the Karnataka Legislature, which began today, was adjourned for a week after obituary references in view of elections to 23 seats to Legislative Council from local authorities constituencies on December 18.
The Assembly and the council would now meet for seven days — from December 21 to 24 and from December 29 to 31, it was decided at a meeting of Business Advisory committee before the session started this morning.
In the Assembly, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and several members paid homage to those who died in recent floods in Karnataka. The members also paid homage to former Union Minister B Shankaranand and former State Minister D T Jayakumar and four former MLAs who had died after the last session. Deputy Speaker K G Bopaiah moved the condolence motion.
Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah (Cong) and H D Revanna (JDS) were among those who spoke on the resolution. Later, talking to reporters, Siddaramaiah said that at a meeting of the BAC, it was decided in principle to hold the session next year for at least 60 days.
This year, the Assembly is meeting only for 37 days, including the coming seven days, even though legislation has been passed some years ago making it mandatory for the House to meet for at least 60 days, officials said.