Vidhana Soudha fete: Ministers, Speaker can't agree

Bengaluru: While the state's power centre, the iconic Vidhana Soudha,  readies for its diamond jubilee celebrations, two prominent ministers and Speaker, K.B. Koliwad have reportedly locked horns over the  expenditure involved.

Going by sources, the proposal by the Speaker's office to spend Rs 26.87 crore on the two -day extravaganza planned for October 25 and 26 has not gone down well with Ministers, T.B. Jayachandra and Kagodu Thimmappa, who feel it is far too big a  sum to splurge on such a short event  

The Legislature Secretary reportedly first sent a proposal for Rs 7 crore for the two- day event , before revising it to Rs 26.87 crore later. Both Mr Jayachandra and Mr Kagodu are believed to have strongly objected when briefed about  his latest demand by the Finance Department.

When contacted, Mr Koliwad at first said he could not be questioned about the money being spent on such functions. "This is a clerical job and its my Secretary, who prepares the list and sends it to the Finance Department. I am not aware of all the details. Besides I am answerable only to the Chief Minister.  I don't know about the Ministers, who are objecting to the spending. I don't need to visit every Minister's house to explain about the function. The Chief Minister is happy and given his consent for the programme," he added angrily, before  picking up a file lying before him and admitting that the 17 listed items for the celebration would require spending of Rs 26.87 crore.

Although the special session has been convened for only two days,  the Speaker said it could be extended for two or three  days more as the government wanted to pass a few Bills.

Asked about the report of the committee on lake encroachments  that he heads, he said it would be tabled in the next session of the legislature. "If this session is extended by two or three days, the report will be tabled then.  Otherwise, we will present it during the Belagavi session,'' he explained.