Shivakumar rejects BJP’s demand for excise minister's resignation
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday rejected the BJP’s demand for Excise Minister R B Timmapur’s resignation citing large-scale corruption in his department.
State Home Minister G Parameshwara too said the opposition is not providing any evidence for corruption.
The BJP staged an overnight agitation in the Karnataka Assembly starting from Tuesday night till Wednesday morning. The party also held demonstrations inside the Assembly as the session started.
The agitation was happening when the state government started discussion on replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajivika Mission (Gramin) (VB—G RAM G) and its fallout on the rural economy and employment scenario.
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Congress leaders said the BJP was raking up a non-issue and that there was no need for Timmapur to resign.
"There are no evidences, they (BJP) have no issues and they have created all fake issues. They want to keep this issue alive," Shivakumar, who is Congress Karnataka unit president, told reporters here.
The BJP was staging demonstrations to avoid discussion on the MGNREGA, he said.
"They don’t want MGNREGA to be discussed. That is why they are doing some drama. Apart from drama, there is nothing. Let them participate. Let them tell about the concept of what they are doing. They don’t have a voice to say on MGNREGA. On the issue of opposing MGNREGA, they have started (their agitation). They are diverting the issue," Shivakumar said.
Parameshwara said, "We have said very clearly that if you (BJP) have any evidence, then give it to us. Our minister is ready to resign. The minister himself said, ‘Give me evidences, I will step down’."
The BJP was making a mere allegation, he told reporters.
He also said his party too had done the same thing when it was in the opposition, but evidence is a must to take action.
Parameshwara said based on the allegations, Timmapur will not resign. Just because an officer had said something, that was not sufficient for the minister to quit.
According to the home minister, there should be some evidences like taking cash or cheque or receiving gratification through some other means.
"Just making allegations will not suffice. These are allegations. They cannot be accepted unless it is proved," he underlined.
Opposition leader R Ashoka alleged that there was a scam to the tune of Rs 6,000 crore in the Excise Department.
He also alleged that the money was being used by the ruling Congress to fund the party in the poll-bound states.
The allegations come in the wake of the arrest of Excise Deputy Commissioner of the Bengaluru Urban District Jagadeesh Naik and two other officials by the Lokayukta sleuths, while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh on January 16.
According to Lokayukta officials, they were accused of demanding Rs 80 lakh to issue CL-7 (Hotels & Boarding Houses) and micro brewery licence.
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Karnataka: GBA city corporation polls likely between June 14 and 24
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi on Friday said elections to the five city corporations under the GBA will be held anytime between June 14 and June 24.
He said the exact date for the polls will be announced after a week, asserting that the power to postpone the elections, as requested by GBA authorities, lies with the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had directed the Karnataka government and the State Election Commission to conduct Bengaluru local body elections by June 30.
On Friday, the SEC held a consultation meeting with the GBA Chief Commissioner and commissioners of the five city corporations regarding the election schedule, as per the provisions of the GBA Act.
“During the meeting, I informed GBA officials that only the election date has to be fixed, as all other measures and formalities for conducting the polls have already been completed,” Sangreshi said.
“They requested the Commission to consider factors such as rains, exams, census work, SIR, and manpower shortages while fixing the date and sought additional time,” he added.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said, “I told them this meeting was not for seeking time. Elections to the five corporations under the GBA must be held before June 30, as directed by the Supreme Court, and a compliance report must be submitted to the court. I do not have the power to postpone the elections as requested.”
The Supreme Court has already given a “final opportunity,” and both the SEC and the government must comply with its directions, the State Election Commissioner said.
He asked GBA officials to suggest suitable dates between June 14 and June 24.
“While stating that they are ready for elections, the officials highlighted operational challenges, including manpower shortages. However, I have informed them that the elections will have to be held between June 14 and June 24. After a week, I will announce the final date,” he said.
Reiterating that he does not have the power to postpone the elections, Sangreshi said the authority rests with the Supreme Court, and elections must be conducted as scheduled.
“We have consulted the GBA as per the rules. It is up to them to suggest a date within the given window. If they need more time, they must approach the court. Our responsibility is to fix the date and complete the polls before June 30,” he said.
The matter regarding manpower and other concerns raised by GBA officials is already before the Supreme Court, and the State Election Commission has also filed a petition in this regard. The case is yet to be heard.
“Since the matter has not come up for hearing, the earlier order remains binding. Therefore, preparations are underway,” he added.
The tenure of the previous elected body under the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) ended on September 10, 2020, and since then, a government-appointed administrator has been managing its day-to-day affairs.
Bengaluru was divided into five municipal corporations—Central, East, West, North, and South—under the Greater Bengaluru Authority in September 2025, replacing the BBMP.
Sangreshi had earlier said that elections to the five corporations would be conducted using ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines.
This follows the Congress government’s decision last September to recommend the use of ballot papers in all future panchayat and urban local body elections, citing concerns over declining public confidence in EVMs.
The state government subsequently enacted the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2026, paving the way for the use of ballot papers in local body elections.
