Shivakumar accepts Kumaraswamy's Bidadi township debate challenge
Synopsis
Karnataka Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar didn’t just accept H.D. Kumaraswamy’s debate challenge on the Bidadi township—he turned it into an offensive, alleging the Deve Gowda family bought land in the very villages now at the centre of the dispute. With 80 per cent of farmers reportedly backing the project and compensation due in June, the political battle may outlast the legal one.
Key Takeaways
Shivakumar accepted H.D.
Kumaraswamy’s debate challenge on the Bidadi township project on 20 May 2025 , asking him to set the date, venue, and time.
Shivakumar said land acquisition for the project began during Kumaraswamy’s tenure as Chief Minister , with notifications already issued then.
The project was originally awarded to DLF , which withdrew citing non-viability; KIADB had acquired around 1,000 acres in the region under previous BJP governments without opposition.
Shivakumar alleged members of the Deve Gowda family purchased land in Devegere and Ketaganahalli villages within the project corridor.
Nearly 80 per cent of farmers in the area have reportedly agreed to the project; compensation disbursements are expected from the first week of June .
The planned township will connect to Kanakapura Road , the Mysuru-Bengaluru highway , and NICE Road as part of a Greater Bengaluru Comprehensive Township .
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday, 20 May issued a sharp counter to Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda over the contentious Bidadi township project, declaring he was ready to accept a public debate challenge and insisting that land acquisition for the project had begun under the Janata Dal (Secular) government's own watch.
Shivakumar Accepts the Debate Challenge
Speaking after meeting farmers at his official residence in Kumara Park, Bengaluru, Shivakumar said he needed only three days to prepare. “Kumaraswamy has reportedly thrown a challenge regarding the Bidadi township issue. I am ready to accept it. I need only three days’ time. Let him decide the date, venue and time,” he said. The Deputy Chief Minister assured affected farmers that compensation disbursements would begin in the first week of June.
Government’s Stand on Land Acquisition
Shivakumar maintained that the Bidadi township project was neither his initiative nor a Congress-era creation, but was set in motion during Kumaraswamy’s tenure as Chief Minister. He said acquisition notifications had already been issued then, and a decision to allot 8,000 square feet of developed land to affected farmers had also been taken at that stage. He added that the project was originally handed over to DLF, which later withdrew, citing commercial non-viability.
Shivakumar also noted that during the tenures of former Chief Ministers Jagadish Shettar and Basavaraj Bommai, the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) had acquired around 1,000 acres in the same region without any significant opposition from the current critics.
Allegations Against the Deve Gowda Family
The Deputy Chief Minister levelled pointed allegations against the Janata Dal (Secular) leadership, accusing them of politicising an issue in which they themselves had a stake. He alleged that members of the Deve Gowda family had purchased land in the area—including in Devegere and Ketaganahalli villages—within the limits of the Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project. “If they are truly concerned about farmers, there should be one law for everyone,” he said.
Shivakumar also dismissed remarks by Nikhil Kumaraswamy, saying local leaders would respond to him, and questioned the consistency of Deve Gowda’s positions, alleging the former Prime Minister adjusted his stance to suit political circumstances.
Project Status and Farmer Consent
According to Shivakumar, nearly 80 per cent of farmers in the project area have agreed to the development and are pressing for early compensation. The government has decided to issue final acquisition notifications village-wise in phases. The area has been declared a ‘red zone’, restricting private land transactions, and courts have reportedly declined to quash the project. The planned township is to be connected to Kanakapura Road, the Mysuru-Bengaluru highway, and NICE Road, forming part of a proposed Greater Bengaluru Comprehensive Township.
What Comes Next
With compensation set to flow from June 2025 and notifications being issued in phases, the immediate test for the Karnataka government is whether disbursements stay on schedule. The public debate challenge—if accepted by Kumaraswamy—could sharpen political lines ahead of local body elections in the state.
Point of View
Redirect to the opponent’s own land dealings. The allegation that the Deve Gowda family purchased plots within the project corridor is serious and demands independent verification—not just a political rebuttal. More substantively, the claim that 80 per cent of farmers back the project sits unverified by any independent survey; the government’s phased notification approach suggests the remaining 20 per cent could still become a flashpoint. The debate challenge, meanwhile, is likely theatre—it rarely materialises in Indian state politics—but it keeps Shivakumar on the front foot ahead of what could be a bruising compensation rollout.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bidadi township project controversy in Karnataka?
The Bidadi township project involves government land acquisition near Bengaluru for a large integrated township to be linked to Kanakapura Road, the Mysuru-Bengaluru highway, and NICE Road. It has become politically contentious, with the Janata Dal (Secular) opposing the acquisition while the Congress government argues the project was initiated during JD(S)’s own tenure in power.
Why did D.K. Shivakumar accept Kumaraswamy’s debate challenge?
Shivakumar accepted the challenge to publicly defend the Bidadi township project and counter JD(S)’s opposition, saying he needed only three days to prepare and asked Kumaraswamy to fix the date, venue, and time. He used the occasion to allege the project originated under Kumaraswamy’s own chief ministership.
When will farmers receive compensation for the Bidadi township land acquisition?
Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar stated that compensation disbursements will begin in the first week of June 2025. The government plans to issue final acquisition notifications village-wise in phases.
What did Shivakumar allege about the Deve Gowda family and Bidadi?
Shivakumar alleged that members of the Deve Gowda family had purchased land in Devegere and Ketaganahalli villages, which fall within the Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project limits—the same area now at the centre of the land acquisition dispute. He argued this undermined JD(S)’s claims of championing farmer interests.
What is the current legal status of the Bidadi township project?
According to Shivakumar, courts have declined to quash the Bidadi township project. The area has been declared a ‘red zone’, restricting private land transactions, and the government says it is proceeding with acquisition after factoring in farmer concerns and offering higher compensation.
