Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday, 14 November shared a lighthearted anecdote from the previous day's Bengaluru Pink Line Metro inauguration, revealing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had paid for his Metro ticket after he admitted to carrying no cash. The moment offered a rare glimpse into the informal rapport between two leaders from rival political formations.

The Metro Ticket Moment

Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar recounted how he had turned to the Prime Minister during their shared Metro ride on 13 November and candidly said he had no money to buy a ticket. Modi, he said, promptly used his own card to pay for both fares. 'I told him that I did not have money to buy a Metro ticket and asked him to buy my ticket as well. PM Modi paid for the tickets using his own card,' Shivakumar said.

The Chief Minister declined to elaborate on the full conversation the two leaders had while travelling together by helicopter to Mysuru. 'I cannot reveal everything that we discussed,' he said, when pressed by reporters.

On Cross-Party Relationships and Leadership

Responding to observations that he appeared to enjoy more access to the Prime Minister than some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, Shivakumar framed it as a matter of personal conduct rather than political proximity. 'It is a matter of human relationships and mutual respect,' he said.

He added that Indian National Congress (Congress) leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge also treat him with 'love and respect.' 'Not everyone has leadership qualities. I do not hesitate to speak to anyone. We should maintain good relations with everyone,' he said.

Push for Local Stone in Metro Stations

Beyond the personal anecdotes, Shivakumar used the occasion to flag a policy directive he has issued to Metro authorities: all stone and granite used in Metro stations must be sourced from within Karnataka rather than procured from other states.

'When high-quality stones are available in our own state, why should we bring them from elsewhere? Using local stone will support our industries and generate employment for local people, from cutting to processing,' he said. He noted that granite is available across several districts, including Chamarajanagar, Tumakuru, Sira, Badami, Ilkal, Kanakapura, and Magadi, with varieties such as Hassan Green, Tumakuru Barpari, Bengaluru Blue, Jubrani, Kollegal Black, and Ilkal Red. He said he had instructed the Metro Managing Director not to hurt the state's stone industry through outside procurement.

Public Transport Push and Government Schools

Shivakumar also made the case for greater use of public transport in Bengaluru, asserting that Karnataka deploys the highest number of buses for public transport of any state in the country. 'Despite having limited road space, we have more buses. Along with buses, the Metro is also very important,' he said.

On the occasion of Children's Day, the Chief Minister advised young people to limit mobile phone use and prioritise education, while also acknowledging the utility of tools such as Google and ChatGPT for information. On government schools, he said his administration has set a 7.5 per cent reservation for students who studied in government schools and is seeking Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding — a matter he said he has already discussed with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. He clarified that government schools would not be handed over to private control: 'The schools will remain under the control of the government.'

On the phone-tapping allegations raised by Rahul Gandhi against Prime Minister Modi, Shivakumar said he was still gathering information and would comment only after getting complete details.

With the Bengaluru Pink Line Metro now inaugurated, all eyes will be on whether the Chief Minister's directive on local stone procurement translates into measurable policy — and whether the cross-party camaraderie on display shapes any broader political dynamics in the state.