'Yajman' row: Congress MLA H.C. Balakrishna apologises to Shobha Karandlaje
Synopsis
A single word — 'Yajman' — has ignited a Karnataka political storm. Congress MLA H.C. Balakrishna's defence of the Bidadi Township Project turned into a controversy over a term that, because Shobha Karandlaje is unmarried, was read as a personal slight. His apology has done little to stop the BJP from pressing the 'Congress disrespects women' narrative.
Key Takeaways
Balakrishna apologised on 20 July for using the term 'Yajman' while referring to Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje .
Balakrishna clarified the word was a political reference to former Karnataka CM B.S.
Yediyurappa , Karandlaje's political mentor — not a personal remark.
The row originated during Balakrishna's defence of the Bidadi Township Project , which faces BJP and JD(S) opposition over land acquisition concerns.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi accused Congress of making 'character assassination of women' a party habit.
Karandlaje is unmarried, making the use of 'Yajman' (which can mean husband/master) particularly contentious.
Congress MLA H.C. Balakrishna on Monday, 20 July expressed regret over remarks he made about Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje, stating that his use of the term 'Yajman' was strictly a political reference and not intended to cause offence. The apology follows a sharp escalation in the row, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders accusing the Congress of disrespecting women in public life.
How the Row Began
The controversy erupted when Balakrishna, a close associate of Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, used the word 'Yajman' — meaning master, husband, or leader — while defending the Bidadi Township Project near Bengaluru. The remark was widely interpreted as an indirect reference to former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, widely regarded as Karandlaje's political mentor. Since Karandlaje is unmarried, the choice of word drew immediate criticism as being derogatory.
What Balakrishna Said in His Clarification
In a formal statement, Balakrishna maintained that he had addressed Karandlaje respectfully as 'Shobhakka' (elder sister Shobha) and that terms such as 'Yajaman' and 'Nimma Sahebaru' (your leader) were used solely in the context of political history. He said the expressions referred to Yediyurappa's role in elevating Karandlaje from an ordinary party worker to ministerial prominence.
'I have always respected her as a senior leader. The words 'Saheb' and 'Yajaman' were used solely in the context of her political background and association with leaders who helped shape her political career,' Balakrishna said. He added: 'Those who are in public life should interpret remarks in their proper context. If my statement has caused pain or hurt sentiments of anyone, I express my complete regret.'
BJP's Counter-Attack
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on both the Congress party and Balakrishna over the remarks. Joshi questioned whether insulting women had become embedded in Congress's political culture. 'Congress leaders have absolutely no respect for women. Is character assassination of women the culture of the Congress party?' Joshi said in a statement. The BJP's response signals that the party intends to keep the issue alive ahead of upcoming political contests in Karnataka.
Background: The Bidadi Township Project Dispute
The Bidadi Township Project, located near Bengaluru, has faced sustained opposition from the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) over land acquisition concerns. Balakrishna had been defending the project when he made the original remarks, referencing the project's history and the role of senior BJP leaders during the 2010 re-tendering process. The political dispute over the project has now become entangled with the personal controversy over his choice of words.
What Comes Next
The apology is unlikely to fully defuse tensions, with the BJP having already framed the episode as symptomatic of a broader pattern of Congress leaders making remarks against women in public life. How Karandlaje herself responds — and whether the Congress high command weighs in — will determine whether the row fades or intensifies in the days ahead.
Point of View
Especially when it involves a woman leader and a term with gendered connotations. Balakrishna's clarification — that he meant Yediyurappa, not a husband — is plausible in context, but the BJP has little incentive to accept it. The party has consistently used any perceived slight against women politicians to build a 'Congress culture' narrative, and this row hands them a ready-made vehicle. The more telling question is why a senior MLA defending a major infrastructure project chose language that was so easily misread — and what that says about the casual manner in which political discourse around women leaders is still conducted in India.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Yajman' row involving Congress MLA H.C. Balakrishna?
The row began when Karnataka Congress MLA H.C. Balakrishna used the term 'Yajman' — which can mean husband, master, or leader — while referring to Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje during a debate over the Bidadi Township Project. Since Karandlaje is unmarried, the word was widely interpreted as a derogatory personal remark, sparking political outrage.
Who did Balakrishna say he was referring to with the word 'Yajman'?
Balakrishna clarified that 'Yajman' was a reference to former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, whom he described as the political mentor who elevated Karandlaje from an ordinary party worker to ministerial positions. He said the term was used strictly in the context of political history, not as a personal remark.
What is the Bidadi Township Project at the centre of this controversy?
The Bidadi Township Project is a development initiative near Bengaluru that has faced opposition from the BJP and JD(S) over land acquisition concerns. Balakrishna was defending the project — and referencing its 2010 re-tendering history — when he made the remarks that sparked the row.
How has the BJP responded to Balakrishna's remarks?
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi launched a sharp attack on Congress on Sunday, accusing the party of repeatedly disrespecting women in public life. Joshi said, 'Congress leaders have absolutely no respect for women. Is character assassination of women the culture of the Congress party?'
Has Shobha Karandlaje responded to the apology?
As of the reports available, Karandlaje had not publicly responded to Balakrishna's apology. The BJP's formal response has so far come from Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who framed the episode as part of a broader Congress pattern rather than an isolated incident.
