Karnataka BJP launches 10-day padayatra across 9 constituencies from September 1
Synopsis
Karnataka BJP has taken its fight over the alleged Valmiki Corporation scam to the streets, launching a 10-day padayatra across nine constituencies from Lingasugur to Ballari. With Union Ministers and senior Opposition leaders joining the march, the party is betting that sustained street pressure — backed by allegations of a ₹87 crore fund transfer — can force accountability from the Congress government.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka BJP launched a 10-day padayatra from 1 September , covering nine Assembly constituencies across the Kalyana Karnataka region.
The march begins at Lingasugur and concludes at Ballari on 10 September .
The protest targets the Congress government over alleged irregularities at the Valmiki Corporation , with BJP alleging a transfer of ₹87 crore .
Nagendra resigned twice over the issue; BJP also raised the death of corporation official Chandrashekhar .
Senior leaders including Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and H.D.
Kumaraswamy and BJP state president B.Y.
Vijayendra are expected to participate.
The Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a 10-day protest march (padayatra) across nine Assembly constituencies on 1 September, targeting the Congress-led state government over alleged irregularities linked to former minister B. Nagendra and the Valmiki Corporation scam. The march is scheduled to run through 10 September, culminating in a rally at Ballari.
Key Developments
Former minister and BJP leader B. Sriramulu unveiled the logo for the padayatra at the party's state office, Jagannath Bhavan, in Bengaluru on Saturday. The march will begin with a large public meeting at Lingasugur and wind through Maski, Sindhanur, Karatagi, Gangavathi, Kampli, Sandur, Ballari Rural, and Ballari City before concluding on 10 September.
Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and H.D. Kumaraswamy, Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka, and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy are among the senior leaders expected at the inaugural programme.
The Valmiki Corporation Controversy
The BJP has consistently targeted the Congress government over alleged financial irregularities at the Valmiki Corporation, which the party claims involved the transfer of ₹87 crore. Sriramulu alleged that corporation funds were misused during the Lok Sabha elections to undermine BJP candidates across districts.
Sriramulu noted that B. Nagendra had resigned from the Cabinet twice over the same issue — a sequence he described as unusual. He claimed that then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had acknowledged that irregularities had taken place within the corporation. The BJP has also raised the death of tribal welfare corporation official Chandrashekhar, alleging he died by suicide after facing threats and harassment connected to the case, and accused the Congress of failing to support the deceased official's family.
BJP's Broader Charges Against the State Government
Sriramulu also targeted Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, alleging that Shivakumar had effectively pressured Nagendra into resigning rather than defending him. He questioned the removal of Dalit leader K.N. Rajanna from the Cabinet and challenged Nagendra's stated concern for Dalits, calling it contradictory given the circumstances.
Sriramulu further alleged that Nagendra had been inducted into the ministry after allegedly providing 'suitcases' — implying corrupt inducements — and claimed the arrangement had now run its course. He also criticised Shivakumar's characterisation of Nagendra as an 'asset of the Congress', alleging that Nagendra had effectively pledged public money to the party.
What to Watch
The padayatra covers constituencies in the Kalyana Karnataka region, historically significant for both the BJP and the Valmiki community. The march is expected to intensify political pressure on the Congress government ahead of any potential Cabinet reshuffle or legislative session. How the ruling party responds — and whether the Opposition can sustain momentum across all nine constituencies — will determine the political fallout in the coming weeks.
Point of View
A region with a significant Valmiki community and a history of political volatility. By anchoring the protest in this belt, the BJP is signalling a caste-sensitive mobilisation strategy, not just a governance critique. The Valmiki Corporation scam has given the Opposition a durable narrative, but the real test is whether street marches translate into electoral pressure or fade as procedural politics. The death of official Chandrashekhar, raised repeatedly by Sriramulu, adds a human dimension that the Congress has not visibly addressed — a gap the BJP will keep exploiting.
NationPress
1 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Karnataka BJP padayatra about?
The Karnataka BJP launched a 10-day protest march (padayatra) from 1 to 10 September across nine Assembly constituencies, targeting the Congress-led state government over alleged irregularities at the Valmiki Corporation, including a claimed transfer of ₹87 crore. The march begins at Lingasugur and ends at Ballari.
Which constituencies does the BJP padayatra cover?
The march passes through nine constituencies: Lingasugur, Maski, Sindhanur, Karatagi, Gangavathi, Kampli, Sandur, Ballari Rural, and Ballari City — all in the Kalyana Karnataka region.
Who is B. Nagendra and why is he at the centre of the controversy?
B. Nagendra is a former Karnataka minister who resigned twice over alleged irregularities at the Valmiki Corporation, a tribal welfare body. The BJP has alleged that ₹87 crore was transferred from the corporation and that funds were misused during the Lok Sabha elections.
Which BJP leaders are participating in the padayatra?
Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and H.D. Kumaraswamy, Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka, and Legislative Council Opposition leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy are among the leaders expected at the inaugural event.
What is the Valmiki Corporation scam?
The Valmiki Corporation scam refers to alleged financial irregularities at Karnataka's tribal welfare corporation. The BJP alleges that ₹87 crore was transferred and misused, and has linked the controversy to the death of corporation official Chandrashekhar, who reportedly died by suicide amid alleged threats connected to the case.
