A Janata Dal (Secular) [JD(S)] delegation on Tuesday, 25 August submitted a formal complaint to Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at Raj Bhavan, Bengaluru, seeking urgent action against alleged irregularities and violations by NICE in the Bangalore–Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMICP). The delegation presented a five-page representation along with a copy of a recent High Court judgment.

Who Led the Delegation

The delegation was led by JD(S) Legislature Party leader C. B. Suresh Babu and included JD(S) legislators and party youth wing state president Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of Union Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy. The presence of Nikhil Kumaraswamy — a prominent face of the party's next generation — signals that JD(S) intends to push this issue beyond a routine legislative complaint.

Seven Demands Placed Before the Governor

The JD(S) representation put forward seven specific demands: immediate stoppage of what the party termed unauthorised toll collection; recovery of 554 acres of land from NICE; constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and a forensic audit; enactment of special legislation to enable a government takeover of the project; compensation to affected farmers; criminal action against officials allegedly involved; and restoration of lake and tank lands to public ownership.

The delegation alleged that land had been acquired without compensation for nearly two decades, reportedly in violation of Article 300A of the Constitution. It further claimed that NICE had sold project-related land to private developers through joint development agreements and that lake and tank lands had been allotted in violation of Supreme Court principles.

The Scale of the Alleged Irregularity

According to the representation, despite the proposed 111-km corridor, only around five km had been constructed over 25 years, while a land bank of more than 20,000 acres was reportedly retained by NICE. Critics argue this gap between land held and infrastructure delivered is at the heart of the controversy.

Notably, the High Court has previously cancelled the final notification for land acquisition in related proceedings, and the court reportedly observed that not even a brick should be moved in the Bidadi land acquisition matter, where 81 farmers have approached the court seeking relief.

JD(S) Issues Two-Week Ultimatum

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Nikhil Kumaraswamy said the party had given the state government two weeks to act. 'If the government does not take over the NICE project, the JD(S) will launch an intense agitation. We will also create awareness among the people and release a website with all relevant documents,' he said.

He described the High Court judgment as 'historic' and alleged the project was a 'major scam' that was not implemented as per the original agreement. He questioned the government's silence, noting that crores of rupees were reportedly being collected as toll despite the court's observations.

Political Fallout and Broader Alignments

Nikhil also confirmed that JD(S) would support Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) protests on state issues, saying, 'We fought together inside the Assembly. Now, outside too, we will stand with the BJP.' This signals a consolidating opposition front against the ruling Congress government in Karnataka.

On the re-induction of B. Nagendra into the state cabinet, Nikhil alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah himself had acknowledged irregularities and questioned why a person facing allegations was brought back into the cabinet. He also accused ministers of 'hit-and-run politics' and questioned why the Chief Minister had not participated in discussions on the Bidadi issue despite being invited.

With a two-week deadline now on the table, the Congress government in Karnataka faces mounting pressure from a JD(S)-BJP opposition combine on one of the state's most long-running infrastructure controversies.