Bengaluru, September 23, 2026: A protest over empty treasury benches briefly halted proceedings in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Wednesday. BJP and JD(S) members objected when the House convened with only two ministers, Krishna Byre Gowda and Santosh Lad, present. The dispute arose just as Speaker G S Patil was preparing to read a congratulatory note for veteran actor Anant Nag, who had received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

Senior BJP MLA Suresh Kumar described the sparse attendance as a “real drought” and questioned Congress Chief Whip Ashok Pattan. Leader of Opposition R Ashoka urged the Speaker to adjourn the House for ten minutes and ask ministers to attend. He said it would be disrespectful to congratulate Nag before nearly empty government benches.

Ashoka also pointed to the session’s discussions on Karnataka’s drought and the Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats eco-sensitive zones. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Krishna Byre Gowda asked the House to begin the tribute and assured members that ministers would be called in. Opposition legislators continued to press for a pause, and the Speaker briefly adjourned proceedings.

The exchange intensified when Ashoka used the phrase “payment ministers.” Congress legislators objected and challenged him to identify anyone he was accusing. After the House resumed, Congress MLA K Shadakshari asked the Speaker to remove the remark from the Assembly record. Gowda said the Chair would decide on that request and urged members to return to the scheduled business. The Speaker then read the congratulatory note, and legislators from across parties paid tribute to Nag’s contribution to Indian cinema.