Empty Treasury bench in Assembly embarrasses govt

The state government had to face embarrassing moments in the Legislative Assembly  on Monday  with only four of the 17 ministers, whose presence was mandated compulsory as per the business rules, being present in the House.

The second week of the winter session of the legislature in Belagavi started on dull note with the House meeting 30 minutes behind schedule for want of quorum.

Though both the Treasury and opposition benches witnessed low attendance, only four ministers were present.

At the instance of Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri (BJP), Speaker K B Koliwad read out the names of 17 ministers whose presence in the Assembly  on Monday  was mandatory as per rules.

However, only four ministers - Kagodu Thimmappa, M B Patil, Santhosh Lad and Krishna Byre Gowda - were present in the House.

 "Where are the others ? What are they doing?" C T Ravi asked.