Uproar in Karnataka Assembly after Governor Gehlot walks out without completing address

BENGALURU: The Assembly on Thursday witnessed Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot walk out without reading the complete address drafted by the State government. The Governor reportedly read to the joint session of the Legislative Assembly, only the first and last lines of his customary address and left the Assembly.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that the State Government will protest the attitude of the Governor and will consider whether to approach the Supreme Court over Gehlot’s action. Congress leader BK Hariprasad attempted to stop the Governor at the assembly gate and asked him to complete reading the speech, a demand Gehlot refused.

#WATCH | Bengaluru | Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot walks out of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly; Congress leader BK Hariprasad seen trying to stop the Governor pic.twitter.com/QZjWSlZJgx

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2026

Following the incident, Congress MLAs and MLCs raised slogans against the Governor, condemning the act. Reacting to the incident, Minister Priyank Kharge questioned the rationale behind the Governor’s move, asking whether “the Governor’s office has become the BJP office”.

“… Who is violating Articles 176 and 163? All we have stated are facts in our governor’s speech… There is not a single lie there, still the governor does not want to read it… Has the governor’s office become the BJP office?…,” Priyank Kharge stated.

He called the address, the constitutional duty of the Governor, stating that the speech comprised only matters of state interest, already presented before Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: On the Karnataka assembly’s special session on MGNREGA, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge says, “… Who is violating article 176 and 163? All we have stated are facts in our governor’s speech… There is not a single lie there, still the governor… pic.twitter.com/FeYeTv2nbo

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2026

“It is his constitutional mandate to do so. I don’t know why he is backing out of it…Even if one paragraph is a lie or fiction, don’t read it. These 11 paragraphs are already being debated in public. The same paragraphs have been submitted to the Prime Minister, Finance Minister and RDPR Minister”, he stated.

“What is wrong with it? It’s already in the public domain. He is merely stating the public’s concerns. If he is not bothered about the people of Karnataka, then he is free to go wherever he wants,” Kharge said.

He further stated that if the governor does not want to read the speech on state concerns, the speech should be made public so they can decide whether it is “fact or fiction.” He alleged that the governor is being ordered by higher authorities to take such steps and questioned his “independence.”

Law Minister HK Patil termed it “a black day in the history of democracy.” “A governor who is supposed to be the guardian of the Constitution has failed to do his duty. He is liable to address the joint session of the Assembly. He has insulted the Constitution. We will take an appropriate decision”, Patil said.

#WATCH | Bengaluru | After Karnataka Governor walks out of Assembly, Karnataka Law Minister HK Patil says,” Today is a black day in the history of democracy. A governor who is supposed to be the guardian of the Constitution has failed to do his duty. He is liable to address the… pic.twitter.com/5YGvJucTxQ

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2026

Later, Chief Minister Siddaramiah said, “…Every new year the Governor has to address the joint session of Assembly, had the speech prepared by the Cabinet. This is a constitutional requirement. Today, instead of reading the speech prepared by the Cabinet, the Governor read the one he himself prepared. This is in violation of the Constitution of India. It violates Articles 176 and 163 of the Indian Constitution. He has not discharged his duties as per the Constitution.

The Chief Minister added, “Therefore, we are going to protest against the attitude of the Governor. We are examining whether or not to approach the Supreme Court.”

#WATCH | After Karnataka Governor walks out of Assembly, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah says,”…Every new year the Governor has to address the joint session of Assembly, had the speech prepared by the Cabinet. This is a constitutional requirement. Today, instead of reading the speech… pic.twitter.com/6h1ZXYaANB

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2026

Meanwhile, the state Assembly Speaker UT Khadar dismissed the allegations of conflict between the Governor and the state government. Addressing mediapersons, Khadar said, “… The constitutional bodies will support each other… The governor’s office is a constitutional body… They will work together… There is no conflict (between the governor and the government)…”

On Wednesday day, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi walked out without delivering his address on the opening day of the first session of the Legislative Assembly.

Also, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan accused Governor Arlekar of making additions and deletions to the policy address approved by the Council of Ministers, and requested the Legislative Assembly to accept the Cabinet-approved version as the authentic policy document.

In its response, Lok Bhavan stated that the Governor had asked that “half-truths be removed from the draft of the policy address. In response, the government had stated that the Governor could prepare and read the policy address with such amendments as he deemed appropriate. It was also indicated that the speech would be resent, incorporating the changes suggested by Lok Bhavan.(ANI)