<p class="bodytext">The Karnataka BJP’s decision to boycott meetings of legislative committees in protest against the suspension of its 18 MLAs for six months is a troubling move that calls into question the party’s commitment to democratic governance. Standing and House committees play a crucial role in scrutinising bills, policies and administrative matters, ensuring transparency and accountability. By withdrawing from these forums, the BJP is not just registering a protest; it is weakening the very institutions that sustain a functioning democracy. Karnataka’s legislature has around 15 committees, each with critical oversight responsibilities. Among the most significant are the Committee on Government Assurances, the Committee on Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes, as well as committees examining various audit reports such as the Public Accounts Committee, Committee on Public Undertakings, and the Committee on Local Bodies and Panchayat Raj institutions. These committees act as essential checks on executive power, examining expenditures and policy implementation to prevent misuse of authority.</p>.<p class="bodytext">One of the most important committees is the Committee on Legislation which examines bills before they are tabled in the legislature. When an in-depth examination is required, joint select committees are formed, comprising members from both Houses, to provide a more comprehensive review. For instance, the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024, was referred to such a committee, which incorporated public feedback and recommended significant amendments. These panels are not procedural formalities, they are an extension of the legislative process, ensuring laws are carefully debated and refined.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The primary duty of MLAs and MLCs is to legislate; they are, after all, lawmakers. By boycotting committee meetings, the BJP legislators are abdicating their core responsibility. While their absence will not bring committee proceedings to a halt, it will certainly rob them of the opposition’s perspective, diluting the quality of deliberations. As the principal opposition party, the BJP should not have taken such an extreme step. The move severely diminishes the role of the opposition in the state’s political landscape, with 18 of the party’s 65 MLAs already taken off action for six months. Protests against the suspension of its members can be carried out through numerous other means, including public demonstrations. However, sabotaging the functioning of democratic institutions is neither responsible nor justified. The BJP must reconsider its decision. Participating in legislative committees is not a privilege but a duty that the electorate rightfully expects its representatives to fulfil. A robust democracy thrives on debate, dissent and deliberation – not on withdrawal and obstruction. If the BJP seeks to uphold democratic values, it must return to the committees and reinforce its role as a constructive opposition.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The Karnataka BJP’s decision to boycott meetings of legislative committees in protest against the suspension of its 18 MLAs for six months is a troubling move that calls into question the party’s commitment to democratic governance. Standing and House committees play a crucial role in scrutinising bills, policies and administrative matters, ensuring transparency and accountability. By withdrawing from these forums, the BJP is not just registering a protest; it is weakening the very institutions that sustain a functioning democracy. Karnataka’s legislature has around 15 committees, each with critical oversight responsibilities. Among the most significant are the Committee on Government Assurances, the Committee on Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes, as well as committees examining various audit reports such as the Public Accounts Committee, Committee on Public Undertakings, and the Committee on Local Bodies and Panchayat Raj institutions. These committees act as essential checks on executive power, examining expenditures and policy implementation to prevent misuse of authority.</p>.<p class="bodytext">One of the most important committees is the Committee on Legislation which examines bills before they are tabled in the legislature. When an in-depth examination is required, joint select committees are formed, comprising members from both Houses, to provide a more comprehensive review. For instance, the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024, was referred to such a committee, which incorporated public feedback and recommended significant amendments. These panels are not procedural formalities, they are an extension of the legislative process, ensuring laws are carefully debated and refined.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The primary duty of MLAs and MLCs is to legislate; they are, after all, lawmakers. By boycotting committee meetings, the BJP legislators are abdicating their core responsibility. While their absence will not bring committee proceedings to a halt, it will certainly rob them of the opposition’s perspective, diluting the quality of deliberations. As the principal opposition party, the BJP should not have taken such an extreme step. The move severely diminishes the role of the opposition in the state’s political landscape, with 18 of the party’s 65 MLAs already taken off action for six months. Protests against the suspension of its members can be carried out through numerous other means, including public demonstrations. However, sabotaging the functioning of democratic institutions is neither responsible nor justified. The BJP must reconsider its decision. Participating in legislative committees is not a privilege but a duty that the electorate rightfully expects its representatives to fulfil. A robust democracy thrives on debate, dissent and deliberation – not on withdrawal and obstruction. If the BJP seeks to uphold democratic values, it must return to the committees and reinforce its role as a constructive opposition.</p>
