Belagavi, which hosts the Winter Session of the State Legislature every year, may this time be the venue of the Monsoon Session also.

If this happens, it will be the first time since the construction of the Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi that the Monsoon Session will be held outside of Bengaluru.

Though there is no Government Order issued as yet, official sources say they have got feelers from the State government saying that they need to be prepared to organise it around mid-July.

“We need at least six weeks to prepare for the Session. It involves logistics arrangements, temporary repairs and maintenance of roads and power lines, drinking water supply and other preparations. There need to be coordinated work with police officers for security personnel deployment, among other things,” said a senior officer.

While VVIPs are lodged in the guest houses of Visvesvaraya Technological University, Public Works, Forest and Tourism departments, officers and the supporting staff of legislators are asked to stay in private hotels.

Around 4,000 persons come from Bengaluru and other cities to Belagavi during the Session, officers say.

The district administration officials block all hotels, guesthouses and resorts for two weeks for a 10-day Session.

The idea was mooted by Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti and it has been communicated to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The Chief Minister is yet to publicly announce his agreement, a senior officer said.

Once the decision is finalised, the Chief Minister will call a meeting of Legislature Secretariat, Public Works, Revenue and other departments and the Belagavi district administration officials and review the preparations.

On two occasions, Mr. Horatti has favoured the Monsoon Session being held in Belagavi. He said that the Belagavi weather can be too cold in winter, dissuading several legislators from attending the Session.

However, farmers associations do not seem to like the idea.

“We have heard from officers that Mr. Horatti has told them that the main reason for the shifting is to reduce the number of protests. Some officers told us that his impression is that farmers tend to protest more during the winter as they are jobless and will not be motivated to go to Belagavi during the kharif sowing season during the rain. If this is true, it is very unfortunate. Mr. Horatti who comes from a farming family should not think thus,” said Bharatiya Krishik Samaj State unit president Sidagouda Modagi.