Kumaraswamy challenges CM Shivakumar to debate on Bidadi Township Project
Synopsis
A project that sat dormant for nearly two decades has become Karnataka's sharpest political flashpoint. Kumaraswamy is challenging CM Shivakumar to defend a township plan that Congress leaders — including Shivakumar himself — once opposed, while 4,500 farmers await responses to objections and a legal challenge is days away.
Key Takeaways
Kumaraswamy challenged CM D.K.
Shivakumar to a public debate on the Bidadi Township Project on 22 June .
Kumaraswamy announced a legal team will approach the court within two to three days with relevant documents.
Around 4,500 farmers have formally objected to the land acquisition, with Kumaraswamy claiming no objection has been addressed.
The preliminary notification for the project was issued on 12 March 2025 ; the final notification on 10 June 2026 , both under Shivakumar's watch.
Kumaraswamy admitted the proposal originated during his tenure in 2006 but said it never progressed beyond the preliminary stage.
Women and senior citizens have been staging a dharna against the project for over 450 days .
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday, 22 June challenged Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to a public debate on the controversial Bidadi Township Project proposed near Bengaluru, asserting that farmers in the region remained firmly opposed to the land acquisition plan.
The Debate Challenge
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy issued a direct call to the Chief Minister. 'Let D.K. Shivakumar come for a public debate on whether the farmers are in agreement with this project. I am free whenever he is ready,' he said, adding that women and senior citizens had been staging a dharna for the last 450 days in protest. He said he was also prepared to visit the protest site.
Kumaraswamy further alleged that the project served private interests rather than public welfare, claiming: 'Nothing will materialise from this project except the filling of Shivakumar's pockets.' He also announced the formation of a legal team to challenge the project in court, with a petition expected to be filed within two to three days.
The Project's Origins and Kumaraswamy's Role
Kumaraswamy acknowledged that the township proposal originated during his own tenure as Chief Minister, but maintained it never advanced beyond the preliminary stage. He said a meeting on the proposed Bengaluru Integrated Township was held on 23 September 2006, followed by a notification on 18 October 2006 for five integrated township projects and the formation of a documentation committee on 28 November 2006. He added that a decision was taken at the time that no development activity should occur in the proposed areas until further approvals were granted.
He also pointed out that when he returned as Chief Minister in 2018, he did not revive the project despite having the opportunity. 'If I had intended to implement the project, I would have done so on a war footing in 2018,' he said. According to him, the preliminary notification was issued under Shivakumar on 12 March 2025, and the final notification followed on 10 June 2026 after Shivakumar became Chief Minister.
Congress Leaders' Past Opposition
Kumaraswamy claimed that senior Congress leaders — including current party President Mallikarjun Kharge, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Shivakumar himself — had opposed large-scale land acquisition around Bengaluru when the matter was debated in the legislature in 2007. He said they had argued then that farmers in Ramanagara and Bidadi depended on animal husbandry, arecanut cultivation, and coconut farming, and that Special Economic Zones (SEZs) should be developed away from Bengaluru's immediate surroundings. The project, he noted, was linked to the SEZ policy introduced by the UPA government at the Centre in 2005.
Farmers' Objections and Compensation Concerns
Kumaraswamy alleged that around 4,500 farmers had formally objected to the land acquisition, and claimed that 'not a single objection has been properly addressed' by the government. He questioned the compensation package, arguing that past promises of developed sites in lieu of acquired land had not been fulfilled. He also criticised the practice of legislators distributing compensation cheques publicly, saying such payments should be transferred directly through RTGS by the competent authority. 'Since when has it become the job of MLAs to distribute compensation cheques? It is being turned into a publicity exercise,' he said.
As legal proceedings loom and farmer protests enter their 451st day, the political battle over the Bidadi Township Project is set to intensify — with the courts likely to become the next arena.
Point of View
And he is now weaponising it against the Congress. What the mainstream coverage underplays is the procedural allegation at the heart of this: if 4,500 objections were filed and none addressed before the final notification was issued in June 2026, that is a potential legal vulnerability for the government, not just a political talking point. The 450-day dharna is also a signal that this is not manufactured opposition — it predates the current election cycle. The real question is whether the courts, not the debate stage, will determine the project's fate.
NationPress
22 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bidadi Township Project that Kumaraswamy and Shivakumar are clashing over?
The Bidadi Township Project is a proposed integrated township development near Bengaluru, linked to the SEZ policy introduced by the UPA government in 2005. The preliminary notification was issued on 12 March 2025 and the final notification on 10 June 2026 under CM D.K. Shivakumar, though the proposal's origins date to 2006 when Kumaraswamy was Chief Minister.
Why are farmers opposing the Bidadi Township Project?
Around 4,500 farmers have formally objected to the land acquisition involved in the project. Kumaraswamy claims none of their objections have been properly addressed, and protesters — including women and senior citizens — have been staging a dharna for over 450 days over concerns about loss of agricultural land used for animal husbandry, arecanut, and coconut farming.
What legal action is Kumaraswamy planning against the project?
Kumaraswamy announced the formation of a dedicated legal team to examine all aspects of the Bidadi Township Project. He said the team would approach the court with all relevant documents within two to three days of 22 June.
Did Kumaraswamy himself start the Bidadi Township Project?
Kumaraswamy acknowledged that the proposal was initiated during his tenure as Chief Minister, with a meeting held on 23 September 2006 and a notification issued on 18 October 2006. However, he maintained that the project never advanced beyond the preliminary stage and that he did not revive it when he returned as Chief Minister in 2018.
What did Kumaraswamy say about Congress leaders' past stance on the project?
Kumaraswamy claimed that Congress leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Siddaramaiah, and Shivakumar had themselves opposed large-scale land acquisition around Bengaluru in 2007, arguing that farmers' land should be protected and SEZs developed away from the city. He said their current support for the project contradicts their earlier position.
