ARAI land row in Mandya: Kumaraswamy, Shivakumar trade barbs over EV test centre
Synopsis
A routine land allocation for two ARAI testing facilities in Mandya has exploded into a full-blown political row, with Karnataka CM Shivakumar and Union Minister Kumaraswamy each accusing the other of blocking progress. The central ministry says no sanction order ever arrived; the state says the land was always on offer. One of them is misleading the public — and the unstarted EV and CIE test centres are paying the price.
Key Takeaways
Kumaraswamy and Karnataka CM D.K.
Shivakumar are locked in a public dispute over land allocation for ARAI testing facilities in Mandya .
The proposed facilities — a CIE Test Centre and an EV Test Centre — fall under the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries.
Cheluvarayaswamy claimed 100 acres had already been handed over, with up to 500 acres available; the Union Minister's office called these claims 'completely false.' Kumaraswamy's office wrote to Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh demanding clarification and a copy of any official sanction order.
CM Shivakumar countered that the state had proposed 100 acres but Kumaraswamy rejected the offer and asked for more, accusing the Union Minister of raising 'old matters' for over 2-3 years.
Both test centres remain unstarted amid the ongoing political standoff.
A political battle between Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has sharpened over the allocation of land in Mandya for two testing facilities under the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) — a Construction and Infrastructure Equipment (CIE) Test Centre and an Electric Vehicle (EV) Test Centre, both proposed under the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries. The dispute, now spilling into public statements and formal letters, reflects a deepening Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) standoff that has clouded project execution in the region.
The Central Ministry's Complaint
K.R. Raghukumar, Secretary to Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, wrote to Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh expressing sharp displeasure over public claims made by Water Resources and Mandya District In-Charge Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy. At a press conference and public event in Mandya — held in the presence of Chief Minister Shivakumar — Minister Cheluvarayaswamy had stated that 100 acres of land had already been handed over to ARAI, with the state prepared to offer up to 500 acres if needed.
The Union Minister's office categorically denied these claims, calling them 'completely false and misleading.' The letter noted that "ARAI, the Union Minister, and the Minister's office have received no information or sanction orders regarding the allocation of 100 acres from the state government or district administration," and demanded an immediate clarification along with a copy of any official sanction order if land had in fact been allocated.
Shivakumar's Rebuttal
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar rejected the allegations of non-cooperation, insisting that state files were being moved and that his government had always been willing to act. "We have proposed to give 100 acres of land, but he (Kumaraswamy) denied it and asked for more. We will give more. He has been making statements over old matters for the past 2 to 3 years. Let him choose the land and propose, and we will provide it," Shivakumar said.
On the question of project implementation, the Chief Minister added: "Who said we won't give cooperation? The statements are made, and file movement is there. Let him start and implement the project first, and we will do our part." He also addressed concerns about litigation-encumbered land, stating he would pursue acquisition and accusing Kumaraswamy of simultaneously instigating farmers against such moves.
The Land and Political Backdrop
Kumaraswamy holds the Mandya Lok Sabha seat, making the district a prestige zone for his party. Congress leaders have seized on the stalemate to charge that he has failed to bring any significant industry to the Mandya region despite holding a Union cabinet portfolio. This framing allows the state government to recast a bureaucratic land-allocation dispute as a record-of-delivery indictment — a favoured tool in India's coalition-era political playbook.
Notably, the disagreement is not merely about who is at fault; it is also about who controls the narrative on industrial development in a politically contested constituency. With both sides claiming readiness while the other is blocking progress, the ARAI facilities remain unstarted.
What the State Minister Said
Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy stood by his earlier claims, asserting: "Kumaraswamy has asked for 100 acres, and we have given it. Let him start the project; we will provide what is required." His position directly contradicts the Union Minister's office, which maintains that no formal sanction orders have reached either ARAI or the central ministry.
What Happens Next
The immediate pressure point is the demand for a formal sanction order. If the Karnataka government produces documented evidence of the land allocation, the central ministry's position weakens considerably; if it cannot, the Congress faces credibility questions over its public claims. Industry stakeholders tracking the EV and construction equipment testing ecosystem have flagged that prolonged political friction over land could delay both test centres at a time when India is competing with other states for automotive sector investment. How both sides navigate the next steps will be closely watched ahead of upcoming state-level political cycles.
Point of View
Holding a Union portfolio while representing the same constituency, is in an uncomfortable position — simultaneously the enabler and the critic. Congress, meanwhile, is using the stalemate as proof of his ineffectiveness, which complicates good-faith negotiation. Until a documented sanction order is produced and verified, the public cannot adjudicate who is telling the truth — and that ambiguity suits both sides more than resolution does.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ARAI land dispute in Mandya about?
It centres on conflicting claims over whether the Karnataka government has actually allocated land for two ARAI testing facilities — a CIE Test Centre and an EV Test Centre — in Mandya. The state says 100 acres were offered; the Union Minister's office says no sanction order was ever received.
What did Kumaraswamy's office demand from the Karnataka government?
Through a letter to Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, the office of Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy demanded an immediate clarification and a copy of the official sanction order for the 100-acre allocation, calling the state's public claims 'completely false and misleading.'
What has CM Shivakumar said in response?
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar denied non-cooperation, stating the state had proposed 100 acres but Kumaraswamy rejected it and asked for more. He said file movement is ongoing and invited Kumaraswamy to choose the land and submit a proposal, which the state would then act on.
Why is Mandya politically significant in this dispute?
Kumaraswamy holds the Mandya Lok Sabha seat, making the district central to his political standing. Congress leaders have used the project stalemate to argue he has failed to deliver major industry to his own constituency despite heading the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries.
What is the current status of the ARAI test centres?
Both the CIE Test Centre and the EV Test Centre remain unstarted. The unresolved land allocation dispute between the Centre and the Karnataka state government has stalled the projects, with no formal sanction order confirmed by either ARAI or the Union Ministry as of 31 October 2026.
