Political unrest in Karnataka

Political tensions in Karnataka have escalated through a series of protests and legislative disruptions involving the opposition BJP.

In late July, BJP leaders staged a sit-in at the Vidhana Soudha campus to condemn an alleged egg attack on MLA B.P. Harish. The party accused Congress workers of the assault and criticized the state government for failing to protect legislators.

By August, the focus shifted to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, where BJP and JD(S) members disrupted proceedings for several consecutive days. These protests demanded the resignation of Planning and Statistics Minister B. Nagendra following allegations regarding the Valmiki Tribal Welfare Corporation scam. While opposition leaders cited investigations by the Enforcement Directorate and Lokayukta, Minister Nagendra rejected the claims, describing them as politically motivated attacks based on his Dalit and Adivasi background.

As of late August, disruptions in the Assembly have persisted. The opposition alleges that Nagendra is involved in the misappropriation of approximately 187 to 189 crore rupees intended for the Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka has accused the state government of misleading the House, claiming that while Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara stated there were no cases against Nagendra, there are actually 31 cases, including chargesheets filed by the CBI.

In response, BJP members have staged protests at the Vidhana Soudha, with some wearing black T-shirts to signal dissent. Conversely, ruling Congress party members have staged counter-protests, accusing the BJP of obstructing legislative business and preventing discussions on critical issues such as drought relief and water shortages.