The Karnataka cabinet on Wednesday decided to move a resolution in the state legislature demanding the repeal of the newly enacted VB-G RAM-G Act and the restoration of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The resolution will be introduced during the upcoming joint session of the Karnataka Legislature scheduled to be held from January 22 to 31.

The decision was taken at a special cabinet meeting convened exclusively to deliberate on the state’s opposition to the VB-G RAM-G Act, which has replaced MGNREGA and, according to the Congress-led state government, fundamentally alters the framework of rural employment and governance.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil said the government would use the legislature session to comprehensively discuss the social and economic impact of the new law, particularly on rural livelihoods and local self-governance institutions. “A resolution will be passed in the House demanding the repeal of the VB-G RAM-G Act and the restoration of MGNREGA,” Patil said.

Strong Opposition from the State Government

Patil made it clear that the Karnataka government intends to oppose the new Act “tooth and nail,” arguing that it strips rural citizens of their right to employment and significantly weakens the role of gram panchayats.

“The new Act takes away the right to employment from the rural population and undermines the authority of village panchayats,” he said. “We will not stop at legislative opposition. We will also take the issue to the people’s court by creating awareness about the negative impact this Act will have on the rural economy.”

According to the state government, MGNREGA was not merely a welfare scheme but a rights-based legislation that empowered rural households by guaranteeing employment and providing compensation if work was not allotted within a stipulated period. The cabinet believes that the VB-G RAM-G Act dismantles these safeguards.

Joint Legislature Session from January 22

The cabinet has also decided to convene a joint session of the Karnataka Legislature to discuss the Centre’s repeal of MGNREGA and its replacement with the new Act. While the Congress government had initially planned to hold a two-day special session dedicated solely to the issue, Patil explained that constitutional provisions necessitated a change in approach.

“The joint session of the Karnataka Legislature will be held from January 22 to 31. Holidays during this period will be announced by the Speaker,” Patil said. He cited Article 176 of the Constitution, which mandates that the Governor must address the House on the first day of the first session of every year or after elections.

“In view of this technical requirement, we are advancing the session. Instead of a special session, it will be a joint session until further sittings are scheduled,” he added.

The session will open with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot addressing both Houses of the legislature.

‘Protecting the Rights of the People’

Responding to questions on whether the state government was adopting a confrontational stance against the Centre, Patil said the approach was driven by the need to protect the rights of Karnataka’s rural population.

“When an effort is being made to snatch away the rights of our people, the state government cannot remain silent,” he said. “From creating awareness among citizens to passing a resolution in the legislature, we will do everything possible to put pressure on the Centre to withdraw this anti-poor and anti-people Act.”

Patil stressed that the opposition was not merely about changes in funding patterns or the increased financial share of states under the new framework. “This is not just about money or employment numbers. It is about the erosion of rights,” he said.

Key Differences Between MGNREGA and VB-G RAM-G

The Karnataka government has highlighted several aspects of MGNREGA that it believes have been diluted or removed under the VB-G RAM-G Act. Under MGNREGA, rural households had a legally enforceable right to demand work, and failure to provide employment entitled them to compensation. Additionally, gram panchayats had significant autonomy in deciding the nature of works to be undertaken within their jurisdictions.

Patil argued that the new Act removes these protections. “Under VB-G RAM-G, officers will decide which works are to be taken up and where. Panchayats lose their authority, and people may be made to work under contractors. This fundamentally changes the spirit of rural employment and decentralised governance,” he said.

Wider Opposition from Other States

Patil also pointed out that Karnataka is not alone in opposing the new legislation. “Six to seven states, including Punjab and Tamil Nadu, have already raised their voices against this Act,” he said, suggesting that resistance to the VB-G RAM-G framework is growing across the country.

The state government believes that a coordinated push by multiple states could increase pressure on the Centre to reconsider or withdraw the new law.

Political and Policy Implications

The resolution planned by the Karnataka legislature is likely to intensify the ongoing debate over the future of rural employment programmes in India and the balance of power between the Centre and the states. While resolutions passed by state legislatures are not legally binding on the Union government, they carry political weight and signal strong opposition from elected state governments.

As the joint session approaches, the VB-G RAM-G Act is expected to dominate proceedings in the Karnataka legislature, with the Congress government positioning itself as a defender of rural rights and decentralised governance. The outcome of the debate, and the response from the Centre, could have significant implications for rural employment policy and Centre-state relations in the months ahead.