 On 25 September 2006, amidst vociferous protests by MES, the Karnataka state government convened a five-day Assembly session in Belgaum, for the first time outside its capital, Bangalore, to assert its hold over the border city.The Karnataka Government declared that Belgaum will be made Karnataka's second state capital but later Karnataka home-minister denied it.The Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy declared that the joint legislative session will be held every year in Belgaum, and a mini "Vidhana Soudha" (state secretariat) will be built in the city.