NEW DELHI: The lounge of the Karnataka assembly now has 15 recliner chairs for its MLAs, including two massage chairs.
These chairs were brought in for the MLAs an MLCs to take “quick naps” after lunch.
Earlier, in a bid to ensure higher participation in the budget session, Karnataka assembly speaker UT Khader had proposed renting 15 recliners for legislators to take a quick nap after lunch.
Khader had noted that many MLAs and MLCs leave Vidhana Soudha after lunch and fail to return for the remainder of the session, leading to poor attendance in post-lunch proceedings.
“To prevent this, I have decided to hire at least 15 recliners and install them in the assembly lobby. This way, legislators can take a refreshing nap and attend House proceedings for the rest of the day,” he said.
Khader said that purchasing recliners would be a waste of money, as they would remain unused after the session. Instead, he decided to rent them and have them removed once the session concludes.
Defending the move, Khader highlighted that earlier initiatives such as providing free breakfast and lunch at Vidhana Soudha have successfully increased attendance.
“Legislators often arrive late if they wait for breakfast or struggle to return after leaving for lunch. With in-house meal services, participation has improved significantly,” he said.