Even as the Legislature session this week was almost washed out by opposition BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) seeking the resignation of Planning & Statistics Minister B. Nagendra, ruling and opposition parties staged separate protests on August 21.

While Congress leaders, including Mr. Nagendra, staged a protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in the Vidhan Soudha premises, BJP legislators staged a protest in front of Maharshi Valmiki’s statue in the nearby Legislator’s Home premises.

The two sides are sparring over Mr. Nagendra, who had resigned as minister in 2024 after his name surfaced in the alleged embezzlement of ₹187 crore in the Maharshi Valmiki Development Corporation. He was inducted into the Cabinet a fortnight ago when Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expanded his ministry.

The opposition has been disrupting the legislature sessions since August 17 with only a few sessions of Question Hour and Zero Hour being conducted, and a couple of bills cleared by the Legislative Assembly amid the din.

“The financial scam has robbed the poor from the Scheduled Tribes community in Karnataka. The money could have been given as educational loan or loan for small business. Their lives have been spoiled. The money has been siphoned off and transferred to multiple accounts, including one transfer of ₹1.20 crore to his family member. The legislature’s business is getting affected because the Congress is trying to protect one Minister, who has looted the people,” the Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Legislative Assembly R. Ashok told presspersons.

Releasing multiple documents pertaining to the illegal transfer of money, he said that the corporation — under the watch of Mr. Nagendra — violated rules and circulars of the Finance Department. “Three chargesheets have been filed by the CBI against you (Mr. Nagendra). There is a chargesheet by the Enforcement Directorate. In Lokayukta, there are 31 chargesheets against you.”

The BJP members, who were wearing black T-shirts sporting ‘corrupt Nagendra’ message during the protest, were prevented from entering the Legislature Assembly by marshals. However, the legislators forced their way into the premises.

On the other hand, Congress leaders and legislators staged a protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in the Vidhan Soudha premises on August 21 seeking smooth conduct of legislature session to discuss the drought, drinking water and fodder shortages in districts, and condemned the BJP-JD S for disrupting the session.

“The BJP is disrupting the legislature since it believes that, after discussions, the State Government may bring pressure on the Centre to release funds. Already, the State has sought a compensation of ₹10,000 crore from the Centre, and sought a team from the Centre to study the situation in Karnataka. The BJP is disrupting the house to protect Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah,” Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President B.K. Hariprasad said. “If a corruption charge is proved, the party will seek resignation from the individual or suspend them. Seven BJP chief ministers in the country are facing serious charges. Let them not teach us.”

Published - August 21, 2026 03:15 pm IST