Former Karnataka Chief Ministers BS Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai and senior BJP leaders were detained by the local police on Saturday, during a mega protest rally they participated in opposing the government move to let the waters of River Cauvery to Tamil Nadu.

In the wake of a call by pro-Kannada organisations for a 'bandh' to oppose the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu from dams in Karnataka, most of the shops in the district headquarters town of Mandya, the Cauvery heartland, remained closed on Saturday.

Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday took a swipe at the BJP and the JD(S) over their alliance and said the SC, ST, OBC, minorities and women of Karnataka must take note of this tie-up between "conservative, regressive and misogynist parties".

A poster featuring Karnataka's Minister for Fisheries, Port, and Inland Transport, Mankal Vaidya, has stirred controversy as it circulates widely on social media. The poster supposedly conveys the minister's wishes to Republic Bharat on the launch of their Kannada News Channel.

Amid continued protests in the state over the Cauvery dispute with neighbouring Tamil Nadu, the Karnataka government on Friday said it will take all necessary steps to protect the interest of the people of the state and its farmers, by ensuring water for both crops and drinking water.

 Karnataka Congress leaders on Friday questioned the secular credentials of the Janata Dal (Secular), which has entered into an alliance with the BJP, and said that the coming together of the two parties will not have any impact on its own prospects in 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

BJP National President JP Nadda on Friday announced that his party had formed alliance with JD(s) ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Amid protests in several parts of Karnataka over the Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka, including Bengaluru, the city police has tightened security, especially in Tamil dominated areas.