Performance in 17th Lok Sabha: Three Karnataka MPs raised zero questions, five did not participate in any debate

A performance analysis of the 28 MPs in the 17th Lok Sabha from Karnataka has shown that three of the 25 BJP MPs did not ask a single question while five did not participate in any of the debates in Parliament during their five-year tenure.

A performance analysis of the 28 MPs in the 17th Lok Sabha from Karnataka has shown that three of the 25 BJP MPs did not ask a single question while five did not participate in any of the debates in Parliament during their five-year tenure.

The analysis done by a group of like-minded individuals and scholars, including A.R. Vasavi and Janaki Nair, was released on Friday at an event organised by Samvidhanada Haadiyalli, a collective of professionals interested in constitutional values and politics. Political economist Parakala Prabhakar also spoke at the event.

According to the analysis, Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad), D.V. Sadananda Gowda (Bengaluru North), and R.C. Jigajinagi (Vijayapura) did not ask any questions during their tenure. Besides, Anantkumar Hegde (North Canara), Mr. Sadananda Gowda, Mr. Joshi, Mr. Jigajinagi, and Srinivas Prasad (Chamarajanagar) did not participate in any debate.

Way below the national average of 79% attendance in Parliament, Karnataka MPs average attendance recorded was 71% in the 17th Lok Sabha. However, nine MPs had above 79% attendance. While two MPs recorded an attendance ranging between 26% and 50%, 14 MPs had an attendance of 51% -75%, and 11 MPs were in the range of 76% to 91%, the analysis revealed.

Drawing on details from the Parliamentary Research Service database of transcriptions of all debates in Parliament, the analysis revealed that very few MPs attempted to initiate policies or programmes to address constituency specific issues.

On Karnataka-related debates, three MPs, Bhagwant Khuba (Bidar), G.S. Basavaraj (Tumakuru), and S. Muniswamy (Kolar) raised issues pertaining to extending SC/ST category status to various caste groups of the State (Kurubas, Kadugolla, Kunchitiga), or for Tulu to be recognised as a language (Shobha Karandalaje, Udupi-Chikkmagaluru). Only two MPs sought relief for floods (Guddi Gowdar- Bagalkot) and A.S. Jolle (Chikkodi) for Karnataka. Besides, Bengaluru Rural MP D.K. Suresh raised concern about the Hijab issue and the imposition of Hindi in Karnataka..

Only Mr. Suresh and Mr. Joshi were considered to have provided substantial support during COVID. Eleven of the MPs provided limited support by way of directing funds or attending meetings. A majority (15) of them were considered to be ‘indifferent’ and two (Tejasvi Surya and Srinivas Prasad) are reported to have played negative roles. One MP (Suresh Angadi) defied COVID safety norms, contracted the virus, delayed treatment, and died in Delhi. His wife, Mangala, was elected on a sympathy wave.