Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders staged a demonstration at the Majestic bus stand in Bengaluru on Thursday, 5 November 2026, condemning the state Congress government's decision to raise bus fares across all four state-run road transport corporations, alleging that ordinary commuters were being made to foot the bill for the administration's guarantee programmes.

The Protest and Its Symbolism

BJP leaders arrived at the Majestic bus stand wearing masks depicting Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh, and held vessels into which they dropped coins — a symbolic act portraying the state government as financially bankrupt and dependent on the public for funds. The imagery was a direct jab at the Congress administration's fiscal management under its flagship welfare guarantees.

What the BJP Alleged

Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka alleged that the fare increase was an act of 'cowardice' and that it would disproportionately hurt low-income commuters who rely on public buses as their primary mode of transport. 'People who travel by buses are poor, not rich. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar claim that they stand with the poor. Is this what standing with them means?' he questioned.

Ashoka further alleged that the state government owed transport corporations between ₹5,000 crore and ₹6,000 crore in unpaid dues, and that financial pressure from guarantee schemes had compromised the government's ability to settle those arrears. He also rejected the government's argument linking the hike to rising diesel prices, noting that Karnataka collects substantial cess on both diesel and petrol.

Kumaraswamy Weighs In

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy added his voice to the criticism, alleging that the state government had left around ₹9,000 crore in dues to transport corporations unpaid. He specifically questioned the financial logic of the Shakti scheme — which provides free bus travel to women — asking how the government could claim credit for free travel while simultaneously leaving transport bodies starved of funds.

'You burden the people, take money from them and then beat your drum about providing free travel. Is this something only you can do? Can anyone not do it?' Kumaraswamy said. He also criticised the state government for blaming the Centre over diesel prices while increasing the financial burden on commuters through its own policies.

What Changed: The Revised Fares

Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh had on Wednesday announced fare revisions for all four state-run corporations — the BMTC, KSRTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC — with the new rates taking effect from midnight. For general transport services, which carry the highest passenger volumes, the increase ranges from ₹9 to ₹68 for longer journeys. On Vega Doota services, the maximum hike is ₹18 for 10 stages. The KSRTC network operates across approximately 150 fare stages.

This comes amid ongoing political friction in Karnataka between the BJP-led Central government and the Congress state administration, with both sides trading accusations over fuel pricing and welfare funding. The BJP has demanded that the government immediately roll back the fare revision; the Congress is yet to formally respond to the opposition's protest.