BJP and JD(S) Plan March to Vidhana Soudha Seeking Minister Nagendra's Ouster

Opposition parties BJP and JD(S) will lay siege to the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Monday, demanding the removal of Planning and Statistics Minister B Nagendra from the Karnataka cabinet over his alleged involvement in the Rs 89-crore Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation scam.

Announcing the agitation on Sunday, Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly R Ashoka said party workers and leaders would march from Freedom Park at 9:30 am to surround the state secretariat. BJP state president B Y Vijayendra is also expected to participate in the protest march.

The demonstration comes after a week of protests and round-the-clock dharnas held by BJP workers across the state. Opposition leaders have repeatedly disrupted legislative proceedings, maintaining that the state government must not retain a minister who faces allegations linked to the corporation financial scandal.

Ashoka questioned the ruling Congress leadership's stance, asking whether it stood with the interests of Scheduled Tribes, constitutional values, and the proper utilisation of taxpayers' money, or with Nagendra. He alleged that the BJP has compiled details of 35 cases involving the minister, including matters relating to mining and the Valmiki Corporation.

Ashoka added that he held discussions regarding the ongoing campaign with Union Minister and JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy, who supported continuing the agitation against the Congress government.