A political row has broken out in Karnataka over the demolition of unauthorised constructions in parts of Bengaluru, with the BJP accusing the Congress high command of interfering in state administration.
The controversy began after Congress general secretary KC Venugopal posted online about the demolition drive in Kogilu village. In his post, Venugopal said he had conveyed the Congress leadership’s “serious concern” over the manner in which the demolitions were carried out.
The BJP reacted strongly, questioning Venugopal’s role in matters that fall under the authority of the elected state government. Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka, asked whether Venugopal was acting as a “Super Chief Minister” of the state.
Ashoka said Karnataka is governed by a constitutionally elected chief minister and cabinet, not by an AICC general secretary sitting in Delhi. He described Venugopal’s remarks as an insult to federalism and accused the Congress leadership of putting pressure on the state government.
“Karnataka’s dignity, self-respect and administrative authority cannot be compromised to please party managers in Delhi,” Ashoka said. He added that people of the state did not vote for a “remote-control government”.
Ashoka also accused Venugopal of hypocrisy, questioning his silence on other issues in Karnataka, including problems faced by farmers. He said the state is not a “colony of Rahul Gandhi and his coterie” and deserves autonomy and honest governance, not what he called high-command theatrics.
Who is@kcvenugopalmp to “intervene” in the administration of Karnataka?
Is he a Super CM, or does the Congress high command believe elected state governments function on Delhi diktats?
Karnataka is governed by a constitutionally elected Chief Minister and Cabinet, not by an… https://t.co/Fmv08iNXvI
Who is @kcvenugopalmp to “intervene” in the administration of Karnataka?
Is he a Super CM, or does the Congress high command believe elected state governments function on Delhi diktats?
Karnataka is governed by a constitutionally elected Chief Minister and Cabinet, not by an… https://t.co/Fmv08iNXvI— R. Ashoka (@RAshokaBJP) December 28, 2025
Venugopal, however, said he had spoken to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar about the demolitions. He said he conveyed the Congress leadership’s concern that such actions should have been taken with greater caution, sensitivity and compassion.
According to Venugopal, the chief minister and his deputy assured him that they would personally engage with affected families, set up a system to address grievances, and ensure rehabilitation and relief.
His statement came after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the demolition drive, calling it the “brutal normalisation of the bulldozer raj”.
‘Super CM vs Dummy CM’
Janata Dal (Secular) has questioned Congress leader KC Venugopal’s objection to the eviction of illegal immigrants from Kokila Badavane in Bengaluru. The party accused the Congress of shedding “crocodile tears” for political reasons and interfering in Karnataka’s administration. It said repeated intervention by the Congress high command shows Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is weak, calling him a “Dummy CM” while KC Venugopal acts as a “Super CM”, undermining the people’s mandate.
