Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday, 15 July categorically ruled out forced land acquisition for the Bidadi Township Project (BTP), announced the formation of an expert committee within two to three months, and pushed back sharply against political opponents whom he accused of misleading farmers. The announcement came during a press conference at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.

What Shivakumar Said

Addressing reporters, CM Shivakumar distanced himself from the project's origins, stating it was neither his ‘dream project’ nor one he had initiated. “I am not in a hurry. I will leave the matter to the farmers. This is a bond between me and the farmers. The committee is being formed to hear their concerns and examine the legal implications,” he said.

The Chief Minister, who described himself as ‘a son of a farmer,’ added: “I may not have personally engaged in agriculture, but I know the difficulties of farmers. I do not want people to suffer. Those who want to give their land can do so; those who do not want to give their land will not be compelled.”

Historical Context: A Project Spanning Multiple Governments

Shivakumar sought to place the Bidadi Township Project in a broader historical frame, tracing its origins to 23 September 2006 under then Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. The original proposal envisaged five satellite towns around Bengaluru — Nandagudi, Kasaba, Ramanagara taluk, Bidadi, Solur, and Sathanur.

He alleged that the Kumaraswamy government had declared the proposed project area a ‘red zone’ in 2006, restricting land transactions, and had issued a Letter of Intent to private developer DLF after receiving a deposit of ₹400 crore. Subsequent governments led by H.D. Kumaraswamy and B.S. Yediyurappa continued the project through the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA), including inviting global tenders under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, according to Shivakumar.

“Who did the real estate business here?” CM Shivakumar asked pointedly, in an apparent reference to Kumaraswamy and his family.

The Expert Committee

The government will constitute a committee of experts and stakeholders to examine both the legal and other aspects of the project. CM Shivakumar made clear that no further decisions on the BTP will be taken until the committee submits its report. The panel is expected to be in place within two to three months.

“I am only following the decisions taken by my predecessors and the guidance given by farmers and senior leaders,” he said, framing his administration’s role as one of continuity rather than initiative.

Opposition Pushback and Farmer Protests

The Bidadi Township Project has triggered protests from farmers and drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)), both of whom have accused the state government of attempting to acquire agricultural land without adequate consultation. The state government has maintained that no final decision will be taken without engaging stakeholders and addressing farmers’ concerns.

This comes amid a broader pattern of land-acquisition controversies in Karnataka, where large infrastructure and urban development projects have repeatedly run into farmer resistance. With the expert panel now announced, the political temperature around the BTP is unlikely to cool quickly — the next flashpoint will be the committee’s composition and its terms of reference.