The venue of the Winter Sessiion, Suvarna Soudha has 24 offices, including one State-level office of the Karnataka Textiles Infrastructure Development Corporation.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO
Activists have demanded that the State government demonstrate its commitment to meaningful decentralisation by shifting some of its important offices to the Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi.
In a letter to the State government, member of the North Karnataka Agitation Committee Ashok Pujari has warned that if such measures are not initiated immediately, then an agitation will be launched.
“We will have a symbolic one-day protest in front of the Suvarna Soudha during the Winter Session in Belagavi. If we do not have any concrete assurance from the State government, we will continue our agitation and spread it to other districts,” he said.
Suvarna Soudha now has 24 offices, including one State-level office of the Karnataka Textiles Infrastructure Development Corporation, three divisional offices and other district offices.
The State government promised to start two State-level offices of the Information Commissioner and the Commissioner of Sugars. But they are yet to start, according to him.
“For decades, the State government has been promising the people of North Karnataka that they will benefit from meaningful decentralisation. But it has not been fulfilled. We have been raising the demand for shifting offices to Suvarna Soudha since the practice of holding the Winter Session here began two decades ago. Governments of all parties have come and gone in this time. But no government has taken us seriously. We will continue our agitation,” Mr. Pujari said.
He has been demanding the formation of a Kittur Karnataka Development Board on the lines of Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board and appointment of an officer of the cadre of Secretary in Belagavi.
“Successive governments have failed to understand our demand for decentralisation. All measures towards decentralisation have been symbolic and half-hearted,” says convenor of the central committee of Kannada organisations Ashok Chandargi.
He said that they have been demanding the shifting of offices since 2012 but in vain. “We met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah five times between 2013 and 2018 and two times in this present term. Once we had a long discussion with the Chief Minister and other senior officers. Our demands for more schools in border areas and additional funds for Rajyotsava and Dasara were met but our demands for shifting of offices have not been fulfilled,” Mr. Chandargi said.
Among his demands are setting up of a camp office of the Chief Minister’s office, with a senior officer to clear files and receive public grievances and an additional Chief Secretary for North Karnataka.
Meanwhile, some activists have revived the demand for statehood for North Karnataka.
General secretary of the North Karnataka Formation Agitation Committee Nagesh Golashetty has said that its members have launched a signature campaign to press for this demand.
Congress MLA Raju Kage has written to the Union government seeking the formation of a new North Karnataka State.
However, Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti and MP Vishveshwar Hegde Kageri have dismissed the demand.
The State government also faces allegations of neglecting the upkeep of the Winter Session venue, i.e., the Suvarna Souda.
A proposal for ₹11 crore sought by officers to repair the Suvarna Soudha has not been approved by the State government. These works include road repair, drainage and water supply, plantation, renovating parts of the structure, including rebuilding or remodelling some rooms and chambers, repair and replacement of doors, windows, furniture and comprehensive purified water supply system.
The proposals submitted in 2023 have not been cleared by the State government.
Suvarna Soudha was inaugurated in 2012 at a cost of ₹450 crore. Public Works Department officials take up maintenance works before every Winter Session.
Published – November 23, 2025 08:30 pm IST
