The Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will stage protests at all district headquarters across the state on 24 September 2026, featuring a symbolic 'funeral procession of the bankrupt government', to condemn what state BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra has described as the ruling Congress government's alleged financial mismanagement and its failure to deliver farmer relief and fund development works.

Protest Announced at Vidhana Soudha

Vijayendra made the announcement at a press conference at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, alleging that the government had failed to responsibly manage taxpayers' money. He said the state has accumulated dues owed to farmers, contractors, transport corporations, health workers, and guest teachers, among other sections. The BJP is demanding that the government issue a white paper on Karnataka's finances and immediately waive farmers' loans.

'The government must place the complete truth about Karnataka's financial condition before the people and issue a white paper. It must immediately provide relief to farmers. Otherwise, the BJP's agitation will intensify,' Vijayendra warned.

Finance Department Letter Cited as Evidence

Vijayendra pointed to a letter written by the Finance Department to the Chief Minister on 17 September, which he said highlighted the gravity of the state's fiscal situation. According to Vijayendra, the letter warned that it would be difficult to fund new schemes and that the state's borrowing capacity had already been largely utilised.

He claimed that pending expenditure on already approved works exceeds ₹2 lakh crore, meaning funding fresh schemes may require cuts to other departments or delays in ongoing projects. 'This is not an ordinary letter. It is a serious warning about the state's financial position from the government's own department,' he said.

Key Demands: Loan Waivers, Power Supply, Pending Dues

The BJP has put forward a set of specific demands on behalf of farmers. These include a farm loan waiver of up to ₹5 lakh, compensation of ₹50,000 per hectare, and uninterrupted three-phase power supply for seven to eight hours daily. Vijayendra said farmers in north Karnataka are being forced to take to the streets due to electricity shortages and urged the government to purchase power from external sources if needed.

He also demanded that pending milk incentives owed to dairy farmers be cleared immediately and that the incentive rate be raised from the current ₹5 to ₹8. In Raichur district alone, he said, approximately ₹150 crore is reportedly pending against maize procured at the Minimum Support Price.

BJP Questions New Scheme Announcements Amid Fiscal Strain

Vijayendra questioned the government's decision to announce new initiatives — including a ₹10,000-crore rural road development programme — at a time when it is allegedly unable to clear existing liabilities. 'On one hand, there is no money to provide relief to farmers. On the other, thousands of crores of rupees are due to contractors. Payments to transport corporations have not been made,' he said.

He cited former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa's tenure as a contrast, noting that during his time immediate disaster relief — including ₹5 lakh for those who lost homes — was provided from state funds without waiting for central assistance. The BJP also referred to its earlier 'Ballari Chalo' padayatra from Lingasugur to Ballari as part of its ongoing campaign to highlight agrarian distress.

What Happens Next

The statewide protests on 24 September mark a significant escalation in the BJP's opposition campaign ahead of what is expected to be an increasingly combative political season in Karnataka. Vijayendra has signalled that if the government does not respond to the demands — particularly on farmer relief and the white paper — the party's agitation will intensify further. The Congress government is yet to formally respond to the BJP's allegations or the specific demands raised at the press conference.