Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday, 19 September 2026, called for a united, cross-party debate in the state legislature on the drought crisis gripping Karnataka, and stressed the need to formally seek Central government assistance for farmers. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Parameshwara — who also holds the revenue portfolio — said addressing the drought and protecting farmers' interests remained the state government's foremost priority.

Special Session Convened

A special session of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly has been convened specifically to deliberate on the drought situation. The session, scheduled to run for three days, will examine the scale of the crisis and chart out relief measures. The Kasturirangan report is also slated to be taken up during this session, broadening the legislative agenda.

'The entire state is facing a drought situation. There should be a comprehensive discussion on this issue in the House. We need to discuss in a united manner what measures should be taken for drought relief and what kind of assistance should be sought from the Centre. This is the purpose of convening the special session,' Parameshwara said.

Government's Appeal to the Opposition

Parameshwara urged Opposition parties to actively participate in discussions centred on public welfare, while acknowledging their right to protest. He cautioned, however, against using every issue for narrow political ends.

'It is not appropriate to use every issue for political purposes. People are watching everything,' he said, implicitly signalling frustration with what the government views as political obstruction during a humanitarian crisis.

Coastal Development and Cabinet Milestone

The Deputy CM also highlighted the state government's push for development along the coastal belt. He noted that a Cabinet meeting held in Mangaluru — described as the first of its kind in the region's history — resulted in decisions on 61 issues, covering tourism, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. He said the government's aim was to deliver projects that directly benefit communities in the coastal zone.

Recruitment, Local Body Polls, and Congress Manifesto

On governance matters, Parameshwara said steps were underway to fill approximately 72,000 vacancies across state departments, including more than 900 surveyor posts in the Revenue Department alone. He added that local body elections would be held, followed by Zilla Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat, and Gram Panchayat elections in phases.

Referring to the Congress manifesto, he described it as the government's foundational guiding document and reaffirmed the administration's commitment to fulfilling promises made under former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and now continued under Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. He said the government was actively drawing on Siddaramaiah's experience and counsel in its day-to-day functioning.

With the special session set to begin, all eyes are on whether the Opposition will join the treasury benches in forging a unified response — or whether the drought crisis will become the next flashpoint in Karnataka's fractious political landscape.