Karnataka BJP on Saturday, 18 July clarified that it has no objection to the dates announced by NDA ally Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) for the proposed padayatra against the Bidadi Township Project, asserting that both parties stand united in demanding the Congress government scrap the controversial land acquisition plan.

What BJP Said

Speaking at the party's state headquarters, Jagannath Bhavan, in Bengaluru, senior leader and BJP Legislative Council Chief Whip N. Ravikumar put to rest speculation about coordination gaps between the two NDA partners. 'The JD(S), our NDA ally, has announced July 30, 31 and August 1 for the padayatra. The BJP has no objection whatsoever to these dates. There is no discord between us on this issue,' Ravikumar said.

He added that BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra would hold discussions with JD(S) leaders to finalise the nature and schedule of the protest, with a joint announcement expected shortly. 'Both parties are on the same page regarding the Bidadi Township issue, and a joint decision on the padayatra will be announced,' he said.

The Bidadi Township Project Controversy

The Bidadi Township Project, proposed by the Karnataka Congress government, has triggered sustained protests from farmers in Ramanagara district, who fear forced acquisition of their agricultural land. The JD(S) had announced a padayatra from Bidadi to Bengaluru demanding that the government withdraw the proposal. Thousands of farmers reportedly participated in a protest in Bengaluru on 17 July, a day before BJP's clarification.

Notably, this is not the first time the Bidadi project has drawn opposition — farmer groups and local communities in Ramanagara have been vocal against the proposal since it was first floated, citing the loss of fertile agricultural land.

BJP Targets Chief Minister Shivakumar

Ravikumar directly targeted Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, accusing the Congress government of adopting a 'double standard' on land acquisition. He pointed out that while the Chief Minister publicly claims farmers' land will not be acquired forcibly, the government has already issued a second notification for land acquisition under the project.

'If there is no intention to acquire land against the will of farmers, why issue another notification?' Ravikumar asked. He further alleged that even small and marginal farmers owning less than half an acre were being brought under the acquisition process, and urged the government to utilise its own land for any proposed township rather than acquiring fertile farmland.

NDA Alliance Stance

Ravikumar was emphatic that logistical details — whether the march would be joint or separate — were secondary to the shared political objective. 'On the matter of agitation, the NDA has one voice. Our goal, our struggle, and our demand are the same: the Bidadi Township Project must be scrapped,' he said. The BJP's position signals that the NDA alliance in Karnataka is keen to project a unified front ahead of what could be a high-visibility street agitation in the coming weeks.