BJP demands Shivakumar release list of 'twice-married' MLAs in Karnataka row
Synopsis
Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar's Assembly claim that several MLAs from outside Bengaluru had married twice has snowballed into a full political row — with BJP's Chalavadi Narayanaswamy demanding a public list of those named, and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy questioning whether such a remark befits the Chief Minister's office. A security scare in Chikkaballapur adds a sharper edge to an already charged session.
Key Takeaways
BJP leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy demanded on 26 September that CM D.K.
Shivakumar release names of MLAs he claimed had married twice.
Shivakumar's remark, made in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly , has reportedly caused suspicion against MLAs in their home constituencies.
Kumaraswamy condemned the statement, saying all 224 Congress MLAs should have protested.
Two persons were arrested in Chikkaballapur over alleged plans to target prominent political leaders; BJP has sought additional security for Pratap Simha , C.T.
Ravi , and Basanagouda Patil Yatnal .
An FIR has reportedly been registered against former MP Pratap Simha under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act .
BJP also criticised the Congress protest at Freedom Park against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the SIR process.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, on Saturday, 26 September, demanded that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar publicly release a list of legislators he claimed had married twice, saying the remark had triggered unrest among lawmakers and suspicion in their constituencies.
What Shivakumar Said
The controversy stems from a statement Shivakumar made in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, in which he reportedly claimed that several MLAs who had relocated to Bengaluru from other parts of the state had married twice. The remark immediately drew demands from Opposition Leader R. Ashoka and BJP MLA S. Suresh Kumar for the Chief Minister to disclose the names of the legislators he was referring to.
BJP's Demands and Reactions
Addressing reporters in Bengaluru, Narayanaswamy said the statement had caused direct harm to the MLAs concerned. 'Since the Chief Minister said that some MLAs have married twice, a fire has been created in their homes. People are now looking at them with suspicion in their constituencies, and the MLAs have lost their peace of mind. If the Chief Minister releases the list of those who have married twice, the truth will come out, and the doubts will also be cleared,' he said.
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy also condemned the remark, questioning whether a person holding the office of Chief Minister could make such a statement on the Assembly floor. He argued that all 224 Congress MLAs should have protested against the Chief Minister's remarks. This comes amid growing intra-state political friction between the ruling Indian National Congress (Congress) government and a reinvigorated BJP-led Opposition in Karnataka.
Security Concerns for BJP Leaders
Separately, Narayanaswamy urged the state government to provide additional security to former MP Pratap Simha, BJP MLA C.T. Ravi, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, and several other leaders. The request follows the arrest of two persons in Chikkaballapur over alleged plans to target prominent political figures. He described the matter as sensitive and said the state government should not take it lightly.
Narayanaswamy also noted that an FIR had reportedly been registered against former MP Pratap Simha under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, related to his protest against a police officer's conduct during a Ganesh idol procession and his remarks on what he described as the Nilishal incident. He appealed to members of the Dalit community not to escalate the matter and called on all sides to maintain harmony.
Congress Protest and Election Council Row
Narayanaswamy also criticised a Congress protest held at Freedom Park in Bengaluru against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. He alleged the protest was aimed at generating publicity rather than serving any public interest, and suggested the Congress should instead call for the resignation of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
On the forthcoming Legislative Council elections to two graduates' constituencies and one teachers' constituency, Narayanaswamy confirmed that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had convened a meeting to discuss poll preparations. All eyes will now be on whether Chief Minister Shivakumar responds to the demand for disclosure, and how the ruling party manages the fallout within its own legislative ranks.
Point of View
But by making it on the Assembly floor without naming names, he handed the Opposition a ready-made controversy. The BJP's demand for disclosure is less about transparency and more about prolonging the embarrassment — a classic legislative ambush. What is notable is that even within the Congress, the silence has been conspicuous; Kumaraswamy's point that all 224 Congress MLAs should have protested cuts. The Chikkaballapur arrest subplot, meanwhile, risks escalating if the state government does not respond visibly to the security request, adding a law-and-order dimension to what began as a political sound bite.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar say about MLAs marrying twice?
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar reportedly stated in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly that several MLAs who had moved to Bengaluru from other parts of the state had married twice. The remark was not accompanied by any names, which triggered demands from the Opposition for full disclosure.
Why is the BJP demanding a list from Shivakumar?
BJP leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy argues that the unnamed allegation has created suspicion about all MLAs in their constituencies and caused personal distress. He says releasing a list would clarify the facts and clear the doubts Shivakumar's statement has generated.
What did Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy say about the controversy?
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy condemned the remark and questioned whether a Chief Minister should make such a statement in the Assembly. He also said all 224 Congress MLAs should have formally protested against Shivakumar's words.
What is the Chikkaballapur arrest incident linked to this row?
Two persons were arrested in Chikkaballapur on alleged plans to target prominent political leaders. BJP's Chalavadi Narayanaswamy has urged the Karnataka government to provide additional security to former MP Pratap Simha, BJP MLA C.T. Ravi, and Basanagouda Patil Yatnal in light of this development.
What other issues did BJP raise at the press conference?
The BJP also criticised a Congress protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, calling it a publicity exercise. Narayanaswamy additionally confirmed that the NDA has begun preparations for upcoming Karnataka Legislative Council elections to two graduates' constituencies and one teachers' constituency.
