Karnataka Governor walks out of joint legislature session after two-line address, CM Siddaramaiah calls him ‘Centre’s puppet’

Pandemonium erupted inside the Karnataka Legislature on January 22 as Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot left after delivering a brief address of two lines on the first day of the joint session, which commenced on January 22, 2026.

The Governor had expressed reservations over 11 paragraphs in the speech prepared by the Congress government in Karnataka, which included strong criticism of the Central government for introducing the VB-G RAM G Act.

Responding soon after the Governor’s walkout, CM Siddaramaiah condemned the action as a “violation of the constitution”. “The governor has acted as a puppet of the central government. To cover up their mistakes, the central government has made the governor read a speech they prepared. This is a violation of the constitution,” he said.

Taking to the podium, Mr. Gehlot began his address with a customary greeting. He then proceeded to read the last line of his speech. “My government is committed to doubling the speed of economic and social progress in the State. Jai Hind, Jai Karnataka,” the Governor said, before concluding and leaving the House.

Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot leaves after delivering a brief address of two lines on the first day of the Joint Assembly session, on January 22, 2026.
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Special arrangement

CM takes strong exception

Explaining the Governor’s constitutional function to address a joint session every year or when a new government takes charge, Mr. Siddaramaiah said, “The governor cannot read a speech he prepares, he has to read the speech prepared by the cabinet.”

The Karnataka government had convened a special legislative session from January 22 to 31 to discuss the repeal of the MGNREGA, and its replacement with the VB-G RAM G Act.

“Twenty years ago, Manmohan Singh government brought Right to Employment, Right to Food, Right to Education, Right to Information laws implementing directive principles of state policy. The NREGA, 2005, gives a guarantee of 100 days of employment for Dalits, 50% women, and other marginalised sections in their villages, even their own farms. Under the VB G Ram G Act, the central government will decide where they should work. Under the old law, action plan was being prepared by the local panchayats. This has also been dropped in the new act,” the CM said.

“We have opposed this and the cabinet included this protest and our demand to bring back MGNREGA, 2005, in the governor’s speech. But the governor has not read the speech prepared by the cabinet and by reading a one para speech he prepared, he has violated constitutional norms. This is also an insult to the house of elected representatives. Our government, party and MLAs will protest this. We will take up a protest across the state,” Mr. Siddaramaiah added.

Similar actions in TN, Kerala

This is the third face-off between a governor and a state government in the past two days in non BJP-ruled state.

On Tuesday (January 20, 2026), Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi walked out of the state Assembly without delivering his customary address to the House on the opening day of its inaugural session of the year, claiming “inaccuracies” in the text. Similarly, his Kerala counterpart Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar had allegedly “omitted” portions of his speech, with the Lok Bhavan claiming his suggestions had been excluded from the original draft.

(With inputs from PTI)