In a significant political move, the Karnataka government has decided to convene a special session of the state legislature. The primary agenda is to mount pressure on the central government to restore and protect the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Chief Minister's Allegations Against the Centre
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, while addressing a meeting of Congress legislators, made a serious accusation. He claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government is actively attempting to dismantle the MGNREGA scheme. Siddaramaiah emphasized that this flagship welfare program was originally introduced during the tenure of the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
The announcement was made on January 9, 2026, marking a clear escalation in the ongoing tussle between the Congress-ruled state and the BJP-led centre over social welfare policies. The Chief Minister's statement frames the issue as a direct attack on a crucial social safety net for rural workers.
The Purpose of the Special Session
The decision to call a special session underscores the gravity with which the state government views the perceived threat to MGNREGA. Such sessions are typically reserved for urgent matters of public importance. By taking this step, the Karnataka government aims to:
- Formally pass a resolution demanding the continuation and full funding of the scheme from the central government.
- Unite all state legislators on a platform to showcase a collective stance against the alleged move to scrap the act.
- Draw national attention to what they frame as the central government's withdrawal from a key rural employment commitment.
The move is seen as both a political strategy to corner the BJP and a procedural effort to use the state's legislative power to advocate for the scheme's preservation.
Broader Implications and Political Standoff
This development is set to intensify the political conflict between the Congress and the BJP, with MGNREGA as the central battleground. The scheme, which guarantees 100 days of wage employment per year to rural households, is often cited by the Congress as one of its major achievements.
The allegation of an attempt to scrap MGNREGA touches a raw nerve in Indian politics, where welfare schemes are deeply intertwined with electoral support. Karnataka's proactive stance may encourage other opposition-ruled states to raise similar demands, potentially leading to a wider confrontation on the issue of fiscal federalism and the centre's responsibility towards centrally sponsored schemes.
The outcome of this special session and the centre's response will be closely watched, as it will signal the future of one of the world's largest public works programs and set a precedent for state-centre relations on welfare policies.
