Vidhana Soudha all set for diamond jubilee, President to kickstart fete

Bengaluru: It’s celebration time at Vidhana Soudha, the majestic building that towers over the city with President Ram Nath Kovind set to inaugurate its diamond jubilee on Wednesday.

Construction on the Soudha, which houses both Houses of the Legislature and the state secretariat, started in 1951. Then CM K.C. Reddy had planned to build a replica of the Athara Kacheri, the present day Karnataka high court building but Kengal Hanumanthaiah favoured an Indian-style building.  After K.C. Reddy resigned, Hanumanthaiah became CM and pursued his dream with Jawaharalal Nehru laying the  foundation stone on July 13, 1951. Interestingly, it is only in Karnataka that the legislature and secretariat operate from the same building in south India. 

It was the labour of over 5,000 inmates of Bengaluru Central Jail and 1,500 masons which helped build the Soudha. Originally, '50 lakh was set aside for the purpose but by the time the building was completed, the cost went up to '1.84 crore.

The President will address the joint session of the state legislature and have a photo shoot with the legislators. 

‘JD(S) members won’t dine’
Taking a stand against the extravagant budget for the  celebrations to mark the iconic Vidhana Soudha turning 60, JD(S) legislators will  have only a glass of water and no dinner at the event planned by the government in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Revealing this at Hassan on Tuesday, party’s senior leader H D Revanna said when  farmers were having such a hard time it would be inappropriate for MLAs to have a lavish dinner costing Rs 3,000 a plate. “We want the money being spent on this lavish dinner to be used for the welfare of farmers, who run their  homes on a budget of Rs 3,000 a month,” he asserted, adding,  “Instead of having dinner at Vidhana Soudha, I will have dinner at either my sister’s or brother’s house in Bengaluru.

Mr Revanna revealed that the party’s decision not to allow its legislators to have dinner at Vidhana Soudha, had been conveyed to the Legislature Secretary.  

“Our  party legislators will not claim any TA/DA either for attending the celebration nor accept any gold biscuits that may be distributed on the occasion,” he declared, explaining that his party MLAs were attending the celebrations  at Vidhana Soudha only in  honour of President  Ram Nath Kovind, who  had been invited to them.

Speaker Koliwad has come under fire for the large budget allocated for the celebrations.