‘Rs 43 lakh for Speaker’s chair, Rs 67 lakh for portraits’: RTI activist slams K’taka govt for wasting public tax money
Belagavi, Karnataka – The Karnataka Council of State on Tuesday drew attention when RTI activist Bhimappa Gadad claimed that the state has invested almost Rs 43 lakh in a single chair for the Legislative Assembly Speaker at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, and an extra Rs 67 lakh in commissioning portraits of national leaders for the same building.
Gadad told reporters in Belagavi that he sees this as a blatant misuse of public funds, citing the government’s claim that it is strapped for cash, yet still spending enormous sums on “unnecessary luxury items.” He added that the chair alone cost Rs 42,93,940, deeming the figure “astonishing” and almost Guinness‑record worthy. He compared the cost with the President’s chair, which was bought for Rs 33 lakh when the President inaugurated the new assembly building, and criticised the state for buying a far pricier piece for the Speaker, which he insists the President never uses. “It’s an outrageous waste of money,” he said, and questioned the Speaker’s personal use of similarly expensive furniture at home.
The RTI activist also highlighted the government’s narrative of financial hardship. “The economy isn’t doing well, and the government is claiming to have cut back on frivolous spending,” he said. “Pension payments to the elderly are delayed, allowances for the disabled and widows have been cut, and public servants are not paid on time, while MLAs and MPs continue to receive their salaries reliably.”
In addition, Gadad alleged that the state spent Rs 67,67,964 on a set of 11 portraits of prominent figures—including Mahatma Gandhi, Lord Basaveshwara, B.R. Ambedkar and Veer Savarkar—displayed inside the new assembly building. He recalled that in 2022 the government had paid Rs 12.70 lakh to artists from the Chitrakala Parishath for seven portraits. Later, under instructions from the Speaker, a review claimed the images were not recognizable, leading to an extra Rs 24.80 lakh spent to correct the issue, bringing the total to about Rs 67 lakh.
Gadad called on the state to make the chair and portraits available for public viewing, requesting a guide to explain the high costs. He warned that if the government does not curb what he terms wasteful spending, he would pursue legal action. “Pensions for widows and the differently‑abled are only disbursed every two or three months,” he added, noting that only MLAs and MLCs receive timely salaries and reimbursements.
The Winter Assembly session is set to commence on December 8 and run until December 19 at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi. The controversy is likely to stir significant protest.
Former Lok Sabha Member and BJP leader Visveshwar Hegde Kageri has already demanded an inquiry by a sitting Judge of the Karnataka High Court into alleged corruption by Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader. “Let a sitting Judge probe the allegations of corruption by Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader,” Kageri asserted, noting that over the past two‑and‑a‑half years the Speaker has engaged in questionable practices—such as installing smart locks in legislators’ rooms, AI‑monitored TVs, book fairs, lighting, and massage chairs—under the pretext of administrative reforms.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
