A video posted by news agency ANI showed 15 recliners, including two massage chairs, were brought to the state assembly lounge for the MLAs.
#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: 15 recliners including 2 massage recliners, have been brought to the state assembly (Lounge) for the MLAs. pic.twitter.com/S4K3QsRMob
— ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2025
Khader defended the move, saying recliners are “not a luxury” but a “necessity”. He claimed that the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has also demanded them.
“It is my responsibility as the Speaker to provide facilities to the MLAs. Recliner chair is not a luxury, it is a necessity. People should understand that not all MLAs are young and not all are healthy. Those who criticise should not look at MLAs or MPs as enemies, they should treat them like their family members… This was the demand from them (BJP) too…”
#WATCH | Bengaluru: Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker, UT Khader says, “It is my responsibility as the Speaker to provide facilities to the MLAs. Recliner chair is not a luxury, it is a necessity. People should understand that not all MLAs are young and not all are healthy.… pic.twitter.com/rscZXtNLCY
— ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2025
Khader said these recliners are on rent and will be removed when the session is over. “We have decided to hire 15 recliners on rent during the legislative session from March 3 to March 21. We are not purchasing them considering it a waste of money as they will lie unused the rest of the year,” Khader told PTI.
The measure was taken to prevent the absenteeism of MLAs after lunch as many would skip the proceedings of the House for a nap.
India Today reported that Khader’s office has proposed to spend ₹3 crore to install smart locks for all rooms inside the Legislators’ House. The speaker clarified that this is merely a proposal and discussion with other legislators is pending on it.
Dismissing the criticism against the move to provide luxury items such as massagers and reclining chairs for MLAs, Khader argued that they work long hours and endure a lot of stress.
The BJP opposed the move and claimed it had never requested such luxury items. “I don’t know what made the speaker make such a decision. But as far as we MLAs are concerned, we never demanded, we never requested for such luxurious and reclining chairs…” said Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra.
