BJP slams Karnataka MLA over 'Yajman' remark targeting Shobha Karandlaje
Synopsis
A single word — 'Yajman' — has ignited a gender-politics firestorm in Karnataka. By using a term meaning 'husband' to describe unmarried Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje's alleged political patron while defending the Bidadi Township Project, Congress MLA H.C. Balakrishna handed the BJP a ready-made narrative: that the ruling party's women-first slogans ring hollow when its own leaders speak.
Key Takeaways
Balakrishna allegedly used the term 'Yajman' (husband) in reference to Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje , who is unmarried, while defending the Bidadi Township Project on 19 July .
The remark was widely interpreted as an indirect reference to former Karnataka CM B.S.
Yediyurappa , regarded as Karandlaje's political mentor.
BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla called the comment 'misogynistic, shocking, and disgusting' and questioned the silence of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra .
The Bidadi Township Project near Bengaluru has drawn sustained opposition from BJP and JD(S) over land acquisition and environmental concerns.
Poonawalla also cited the recent murder of a woman in Mangaluru district to attack the D.K.
Shivakumar government's law and order record.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday, 19 July launched a sharp political offensive against the Indian National Congress after senior Karnataka MLA H.C. Balakrishna allegedly used the term 'Yajman' (husband) in reference to Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje — a remark that triggered an immediate controversy, given that Karandlaje is unmarried. The comment was made while Balakrishna was defending the contentious Bidadi Township Project near Bengaluru.
What Was Said and Why It Sparked a Row
Balakrishna reportedly claimed that the Bidadi Township Project had been initiated by Karandlaje's 'Yajman' — a word in Kannada that typically denotes a husband or master. Since Karandlaje is unmarried, the remark was widely interpreted as an indirect reference to former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who is regarded as her political mentor. The BJP immediately condemned the comment as sexist and demeaning to a woman in public life.
BJP's Reaction: 'Misogynistic and Disgusting'
BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla led the charge, describing the remark as reflecting the 'heights of shameless, brazen misogyny' within the Congress. In a post on social media, Poonawalla said: 'They are implementing the Bidadi Township Project to take away farmers' land, allegedly to benefit the real estate mafia. When the BJP protests, sexist and misogynistic comments are made against Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje.'
He further called Balakrishna's words 'unbecoming, shocking, and disgusting,' and added: 'A Congress MLA says this project was started by her Yajman. This is the most unbecoming, shocking, and disgusting comment to make about a woman in politics.'
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Called Out
Poonawalla also questioned the silence of senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, over the controversy. Invoking the Congress party's own campaign slogan 'Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon', he alleged a contradiction between the party's stated commitment to women's empowerment and its leaders' conduct on the ground. He also referenced the recent murder of a woman in Mangaluru district — allegedly hacked to death in broad daylight — to press his criticism of the Karnataka government's law and order record under Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
The Bidadi Township Project: A Continuing Flashpoint
The Bidadi Township Project has become one of Karnataka's most politically charged land-use disputes. The BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) have accused the state government of enabling large-scale agricultural land acquisition that they say serves private real estate interests at the expense of farmers and the environment. The Congress, however, maintains the project is designed to facilitate planned urban development in a fast-growing corridor near Bengaluru.
Notably, this is not the first time the project has generated political heat; opposition parties have consistently used it to question the Shivakumar government's priorities. The 'Yajman' remark has now given the BJP fresh ammunition to widen the controversy beyond land policy into the terrain of gender politics. How the Congress responds — and whether it distances itself from Balakrishna's comments — will shape the next phase of this row.
Point of View
A far more potent electoral charge. Yet the BJP's own record on women's safety in states it governs rarely survives scrutiny either. What this row ultimately obscures is the substantive question at the heart of the Bidadi controversy: whether the township project's land acquisition process met due-process standards for farmers. That question is now buried under the noise of a remark.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Karnataka MLA H.C. Balakrishna say about Shobha Karandlaje?
Balakrishna allegedly referred to Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje's 'Yajman' (a Kannada word meaning husband or master) while defending the Bidadi Township Project. Since Karandlaje is unmarried, the remark was widely interpreted as a reference to former Karnataka CM B.S. Yediyurappa, her reported political mentor.
Why is the Bidadi Township Project controversial?
The Bidadi Township Project near Bengaluru has faced stiff opposition from the BJP and JD(S), who allege it involves large-scale agricultural land acquisition that benefits private real estate interests and harms farmers and the environment. The Congress government maintains it is a planned urban development initiative.
How did the BJP respond to the 'Yajman' remark?
BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla condemned the remark as 'misogynistic, shocking, and disgusting,' accusing the Congress of hypocrisy given its 'Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon' campaign. He also questioned the silence of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on the issue.
Who is Shobha Karandlaje?
Shobha Karandlaje is a Union Minister of State and senior BJP leader from Karnataka. She is unmarried, and B.S. Yediyurappa — former Chief Minister of Karnataka — is widely regarded as her political mentor.
What else did the BJP raise alongside the 'Yajman' controversy?
BJP spokesperson Poonawalla also cited the recent murder of a woman in Mangaluru district — allegedly hacked to death in broad daylight — to criticise the law and order situation under the D.K. Shivakumar-led Karnataka government.
