First Karna assembly session from Jan 20

Bengaluru: The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday decided to hold the first legislature session of 2020 from January 20 to 30, with the Governor addressing the joint session on the first day.

“Cabinet has decided to convene the legislature session from January 20 to 30 other than on holidays (Jan 25 and 26), in Bengaluru, which will include Governor’s address on the first day,” Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy told reporters here after the cabinet meeting.

He said there were certain bills that need to be introduced during the session along with the discussion on Governor’s address.

The January session would be the first after the ruling BJP had swept the by-elections, winning 12 of the total 15 seats, helping the four-month-old B S Yediyurappa government to retain majority in the Assembly.

BJP leaders expressed confidence that cabinet expansion would take place before session.

Signalling a delay in the expansion of his ministry, Yediyurappa on Thursday said he may not go to New Delhi for about a week to discuss it with the BJP high command.

After his government retained majority in the Assembly by sweeping the December 5 bypolls, Yediyurappa had said he would be travelling to Delhi soon to hold discussions with the BJP central leadership on the cabinet expansion.

Congress too need to fill in key vacant posts before the session, with Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah quitting as its Legislature Party leader on Monday after the party posted a poor show, winning only two seats, as against the 12 it had held of the 15 which went to the bypolls.