Karnataka Congress demands arrest of BJP's Narayanaswamy over 'chop and throw' remarks
Synopsis
BJP's Karnataka Legislative Council Opposition Leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy triggered a political storm by threatening that BJP workers would 'chop Congress workers into pieces and throw them into the Arabian Sea.' The Congress has now demanded his arrest, a suo motu police case, and his removal from the opposition leader post — turning a Kolar rally speech into a full-blown state political crisis.
Key Takeaways
KPCC Vice-President H.
Anjaneya on 4 November 2026 demanded the arrest of BJP's Chalavadi Narayanaswamy , Legislative Council Opposition Leader in Karnataka.
Narayanaswamy had allegedly threatened at a Kolar BJP rally that Congress workers would be 'chopped into pieces and thrown into the Arabian Sea.' The rally was held under the slogan 'Save Democracy, Eradicate Anarchy' as a counter to Congress protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Congress has demanded a suo motu police case and is consulting legal experts to file complaints in multiple jurisdictions.
Anjaneya also called on the BJP to remove Narayanaswamy from the Leader of the Opposition post in the Legislative Council.
Narayanaswamy allegedly once worked at the residence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge , according to Anjaneya.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Vice-President H. Anjaneya on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, demanded the arrest of Legislative Council Opposition Leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy over remarks in which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader allegedly threatened that BJP workers would 'chop Congress workers into pieces and throw them into the Arabian Sea' if Congress continued what he described as anarchy. The demand came from the KPCC office in Bengaluru and triggered a fresh political flashpoint in Karnataka.
What Narayanaswamy Said
Narayanaswamy made the remarks while addressing a BJP foot march in Kolar, organised under the slogan 'Save Democracy, Eradicate Anarchy' — framed as a counter to the Congress protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. His statement — that BJP workers and supporters would chop Congress workers into pieces and throw them into the Arabian Sea — drew immediate condemnation from the ruling Congress in the state.
Congress Calls for Suo Motu Action
Addressing a press conference, Anjaneya condemned the remarks sharply, questioning whether such language was appropriate for a politician or was 'the kind of language used by terrorists.' He alleged that Narayanaswamy had deliberately provoked Congress workers who, he said, follow the principles of Mahatma Gandhi.
'We do not believe in violence and do not wish to use unconstitutional or unparliamentary words,' Anjaneya said. He demanded that the police register a suo motu case against Narayanaswamy and arrest him. The Congress is reportedly preparing to file a complaint in Kolar and is consulting legal experts on filing cases in other jurisdictions as well.
Congress Invokes Freedom Struggle, Defends SIR Protest
Anjaneya pushed back against the BJP's characterisation of the Congress agitation as 'anarchy', arguing that the party's protest was a constitutional effort to protect citizens' voting rights. He cited Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's role in leading the campaign and drew a pointed comparison with historical Congress sacrifice. 'We are the people who faced British bullets during the freedom struggle. Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives for the unity and integrity of the nation,' he said.
He also rejected the BJP's framing by asserting that the Congress had not planted bombs on trains or engaged in any act of violence — a direct counter to the BJP's 'anarchy' charge.
Removal Demand and Personal Jabs
Beyond the arrest demand, Anjaneya called on the BJP to remove Narayanaswamy from the post of Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, arguing the party bore a moral responsibility to act. He also alleged that Narayanaswamy had previously been associated with the Congress and had worked at the residence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, accusing him of betrayal and suggesting his inflammatory remarks were motivated by a desire for publicity and political advancement.
Also present at the press conference were former KPCC Working President B.N. Chandrappa, KPCC SC Department President R. Dharmasena, and KPCC General Secretary Venkatesh.
Backdrop: The SIR Controversy
The row erupts amid a wider political battle over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which the Congress has protested, alleging it targets vulnerable voter groups. The BJP's counter-march in Kolar was designed to shift the narrative, but Narayanaswamy's remarks have instead handed the Congress a fresh grievance. This is the latest in a series of sharp exchanges between Karnataka's ruling Congress and the BJP opposition, with both sides escalating rhetoric ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Whether police act on the Congress complaint — given the state is under Congress rule — will be closely watched as a measure of how far the party is willing to push this confrontation.
Point of View
Escalating swiftly to an arrest demand rather than a simple condemnation, signals it sees political upside in prolonging this controversy. The more revealing test will be whether Karnataka Police — operating under a Congress government — actually registers a suo motu case; inaction would blunt the party's own narrative. Meanwhile, the SIR row that sparked all of this — a genuinely consequential dispute over electoral roll revisions — risks being buried under the noise of this personal confrontation.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did BJP leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy say that caused the controversy?
Narayanaswamy allegedly stated at a BJP foot march in Kolar that BJP workers and supporters would chop Congress workers into pieces and throw them into the Arabian Sea if Congress continued what he described as creating anarchy in the country. The remarks were made at a rally held under the slogan 'Save Democracy, Eradicate Anarchy.'
What has the Karnataka Congress demanded in response?
KPCC Vice-President H. Anjaneya has demanded that police register a suo motu case against Narayanaswamy and arrest him. The Congress is also preparing to file a formal complaint in Kolar and is consulting legal experts about filing cases in other locations.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a process to update and revise electoral rolls. The Congress has been protesting against the SIR, alleging it targets vulnerable voter groups, while the BJP organised a counter-march in Kolar to defend the exercise.
Who is Chalavadi Narayanaswamy?
Chalavadi Narayanaswamy is the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council, representing the BJP. KPCC Vice-President H. Anjaneya also alleged that Narayanaswamy had previously been associated with the Congress and worked at the residence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
Has the Congress also demanded Narayanaswamy's removal from his party post?
Yes. Anjaneya demanded that the BJP remove Narayanaswamy from the post of Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, saying the party bore moral responsibility for his remarks. He also alleged the remarks were motivated by a desire for publicity rather than genuine political conviction.
