Vidhana Soudha fete: House chiefs bypassed government?

Bengaluru: In an irony of sorts the two day special session of the state legislature and celebrations planned to mark the 60 years of the city's iconic building, and seat of power, the Vidhana Soudha is expected to cost Rs 25 crore, when it was built for merely Rs1.7 5 crore in 1956 by the then Chief Minister, Kengal Hanumanthaiah.

The staggering quote presented by the presiding officers of both Houses of the legislature to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, T B Jayachandra, has reportedly shocked the two men.

But with President Ram Nath Kovind already agreeing to inaugurate the special session of the legislature on October 25, the Cabinet  had no choice but to approve the celebration of the diamond jubilee of the Vidhana Soudha, according to sources.

Both Speaker, K.B. Koliwad and Legislative Council chairman, D.H. Shankarmurthy, reportedly finalised matters with Mr Ram Nath Kovind without taking the consent of the government although they had orally informed the Chief Minister that they were going to Delhi to seek an appointment with the President. And this did not entirely please Mr Siddaramaiah or Mr Jayachandra, claim sources. 

The issue was reportedly discussed at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, and Mr Siddaramaiah asked Mr. Jayachandra to look into it. When contacted, Mr Jayachandra said he would discuss the matter with both presiding officers and explain that they were expected to first send a request to the state government on holding the special session and celebrations to mark the diamond jubilee of the Vidhana Soudha before taking any initiative on it.