Karnataka Governor Declines to Address Legislature Over Speech Objections on MGNREGA Replacement

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot refused to address the joint legislature session scheduled for January 22, citing objections to 11 paragraphs in the government-prepared speech that criticized the Centre's repeal of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and related fund devolution issues. The Congress-led state government, opposing the new Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act replacing MGNREGA, sought to pass a resolution against it. A delegation led by Law Minister H.K. Patil met the Governor to resolve the impasse, but no agreement was reached. This standoff follows similar confrontations in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, highlighting tensions between governors and non-BJP state governments over legislative addresses and policy criticisms.