Former BJP Chief Minister BS Yeddiyurappa has on Friday conferred with the Best MLA Award in the presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Yeddiyurappa has recently resigned as the Chief Minister of Karnataka and with the bestowment, he has become the first MLA in Karnataka to bag this honour, which was established on Friday. 

Karnataka Assembly Speaker Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri has on Friday announced that in the lines of the best parliamentarian award being given in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha annually, Karnataka will also have the best legislator award for members of the Legislative Assembly from this year. He said that every year, one legislator will be selected for the award and the selected legislator will receive a certificate and a silver medal with the insignia of Vidhana Soudha. 

According to reports, a six-member committee headed by the Speaker, with Deputy Speaker, Chief Minister of the state, Leader of the Opposition, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, and one member nominated by the Speaker as members on board will select the best legislator. The inaugural event of the award was held on Friday in the state assembly and former Chief Minister and sitting BJP MLA BS Yediyurappa was conferred with the first-ever Best MLA Award for the year 2020-21. 

As a veteran BJP leader, Yediyurappa had served as the Karnataka Chief Minister four times and he has been currently representing the Shikaripura constituency in the assembly. On the front of why he was conferred with the award, the reports say that Yediyurappa has won the award as recognition for his long stint in electoral politics and best performance as a member of the assembly. It has also been reported that the award will be given only for the members of the House and not ministers. 

The award will be conferred based on various categories including the legislators' contribution to their respective constituencies, overall experience as a legislator, debating skills in the house, interest in issues linked to the public interest, issues raised in the house, knowledge of Kannada, and behaviour with fellow legislators. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had presented the award to Yediyurappa. 

Addressing the assembly, Om Birla has said, "When the constitution was drafted, the sentiment was to make our legislative more aware, dutiful, honest, and responsible so that a path will be paved for the socio and economic betterment of people." He added, "It is our duty to have extensive discussions on the laws we form, there should be more active participation of the MLAs so that no questions could be raised on the laws that are formed."