Legislative Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri on Thursday said the Assembly achieved “a major milestone” by holding a two-day debate on electoral reforms in the State and said he would raise electoral reform issues at the presiding officers’ conference to be held at Gauhati in Assam in April.
Speaking at a press conference, Mr. Kageri said 17 members of the Assembly spoke on electoral reforms for about 10 hours. The debate was held on a serious note and many members, including JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy, spoke about of his experience. The debate raised issues related to electoral malpractices, expenditures, corruption, declining values in the democracy, and difficulties faced by women in contesting elections, he said.
Mr. Kageri said a month-long legislature session conducted a debate on the demands of many departments and some Ministers too replied to issues raised by Opposition members.
In September last year, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla addressed both Houses of the State legislature on “Democracy - Safeguarding Parliamentary Values”, Mr. Kageri said.
Being a head of the legislature (both Houses), he would try his best to improve the debating standards of the Council, Mr. Kageri said.
