₹15 lakh shawl remark triggers BJP-Congress clash in Karnataka Council
Synopsis
A green shawl and a ₹15 lakh allegation were all it took to halt the Karnataka Legislative Council on 23 September. BJP MLC K.S. Naveen's dig at Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's wardrobe during a drought drew a counter-attack dragging Prime Minister Modi into the row — and ended with the House adjourned amid rival slogans.
Key Takeaways
Naveen alleged that CM D.K.
Shivakumar wore a ₹15 lakh shawl even as Karnataka faces an ongoing drought.
Ravi , reportedly a relative of the Chief Minister, mocked Naveen's green shawl as an artificial gesture of farmer solidarity.
Naveen retorted he would never attend the session in a shawl worth ₹15 lakh , directly targeting Shivakumar.
Ravi counter-attacked by alleging PM Narendra Modi had previously worn a suit with gold threads worth crores.
Council Chairman Saleem Ahmed directed that the heated exchanges not be recorded, and ultimately adjourned the House to restore order.
A verbal spat over a ₹15 lakh shawl brought the Karnataka Legislative Council to a standstill on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, after BJP MLC K.S. Naveen alleged that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had worn a shawl worth ₹15 lakh even as the state grapples with an ongoing drought. The row quickly escalated into a full-throated slanging match between BJP and Congress members, forcing Council Chairman Saleem Ahmed to adjourn proceedings.
How the Clash Unfolded
Naveen had taken to the floor wearing a green shawl, presenting it as a symbol of solidarity with drought-hit farmers in the state. Congress MLC S. Ravi — reportedly a relative of Chief Minister Shivakumar — responded with an ironic dig, suggesting that Naveen's gesture was hollow and that he should have spoken without the shawl.
Naveen fired back sharply. 'I have been wearing shawls to represent the woes of farmers. To reflect their issues, I have worn this shawl. I will not come to the session wearing a ₹15 lakh-worth shawl,' he said, directing his remark pointedly at the Chief Minister.
Congress Ministers Step In
As Congress members objected to Naveen's reference to the Chief Minister, Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah and Muzrai Minister K.S. Basavanthappa intervened, urging Naveen to refrain from personal remarks. Council Chairman Saleem Ahmed also stepped in, directing officials not to place the heated exchanges on record.
Congress Turns the Tables on PM Modi
Ravi subsequently defended his position, arguing that Chief Minister Shivakumar — unlike Prime Minister Narendra Modi — did not wear expensive attire to make a display of wealth. He further alleged that the Prime Minister had previously worn a suit with gold threads worth crores. Ravi maintained that Shivakumar wore a normal shawl according to his personal taste, and insisted his original criticism was aimed at what he called the 'artificiality' of Naveen donning a green shawl as a political prop.
House Adjourned as Slogans Fill the Chamber
The exchange refused to stay contained. BJP and Congress members began raising slogans against each other inside the House, disrupting proceedings entirely. Chairman Saleem Ahmed ultimately adjourned the Council to restore order. This is not the first time symbolic clothing has become a flashpoint in Indian legislative chambers — such incidents often signal deeper political friction over governance optics, particularly during agrarian crises. With Karnataka's drought situation showing little sign of easing, the political temperature inside the Council is unlikely to cool anytime soon.
Point of View
But it is not without subtext. Naveen's green-shawl stunt was a calculated image move ahead of the drought relief debate — and Ravi's counter-punch dragging in Modi's gold-thread suit was equally calculated, recycling a years-old talking point to neutralise the BJP's optics. What both sides avoided discussing was the actual substance: the state of drought relief in Karnataka and what the government has or has not delivered to farmers. Legislative time spent trading costume commentary is legislative time not spent on agrarian distress. The adjournment is the most honest statement either side made all day.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered the clash in the Karnataka Legislative Council on 23 September?
The clash was triggered when BJP MLC K.S. Naveen alleged that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar wore a ₹15 lakh shawl during the ongoing drought, prompting Congress MLC S. Ravi to mock Naveen's own green shawl as an empty gesture. The exchange escalated into slogan-shouting between BJP and Congress members, forcing the House to adjourn.
What did BJP MLC K.S. Naveen say in the Karnataka Council?
Naveen said he wore a green shawl to represent the hardships of drought-affected farmers and stated he would never attend the session wearing a shawl worth ₹15 lakh — a pointed reference to Chief Minister Shivakumar. He also demanded that Congress MLC S. Ravi address the Chief Minister's conduct instead of criticising his shawl.
How did Congress respond to Naveen's ₹15 lakh shawl allegation?
Congress MLC S. Ravi defended Chief Minister Shivakumar, arguing he wore a normal shawl unlike Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom Ravi alleged had previously worn a gold-threaded suit worth crores. Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah and Muzrai Minister K.S. Basavanthappa also intervened to urge Naveen to avoid personal remarks.
What action did Council Chairman Saleem Ahmed take?
Council Chairman Saleem Ahmed first directed officials not to record the heated exchanges between members. When BJP and Congress members began raising slogans inside the House and proceedings were fully disrupted, he adjourned the Council to restore order.
What is the backdrop to this controversy?
Karnataka is currently experiencing a drought, and the BJP has been using the legislature to press the ruling Congress government on relief measures for farmers. Naveen's green shawl was intended as a visual symbol of farmer distress, making the symbolic clothing a proxy battleground for the wider political dispute over the state government's drought response.
