Karnataka Upper House plunges into chaos, lawmakers throw Covid-19 protocol to the winds

Bengaluru: Karnataka’s lawmakers on Tuesday demonstrated they are above the regulations the government has notified to prevent spread of Covid-19 infection. They flouted mask and physical distancing regulations as the legislative council plunged into a chaos.

Among them were senior ministers including deputy chief ministers, who otherwise appeal to public to wear masks and keep distance from each other.

The Council witnessed ugly scenes when both ruling BJP and Opposition Congress and JD(S) members pushed and shoved each other trying to take control of the house proceedings. While the Congress was trying to retain its nominee Prathapchandra Shetty as chairman, the BJP and JD(S) joined hands to throw him out.


Almost every member of the house rushed into the narrow well of the house forcing house marshals to rush in to prevent the situation from getting worse. At one point, the Congress members physically lifted deputy chairman Dharme Gowda so that Shetty could sit there.

Most of these members are around or above 60 years – an age group health experts say are vulnerable to the covid-19 infection. They threw mask regulations as well as keeping physical distance to winds.

It is to be seen if Bengaluru’s civic body BBMP will take cognizance of the video footage of the house proceedings and collect fines from members including ministers and deputy chief ministers, a member of a citizen group wondered.