Congress leaders rebelling against CM Shivakumar, says Karnataka BJP chief Vijayendra
Synopsis
Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra turned the sugarcane farmers' debate on its head on Tuesday — instead of engaging with CM Shivakumar's call for an all-party meeting, he alleged that Congress leaders are actively preparing to rebel against Shivakumar, framing the CM's attacks on the Centre as a sign of internal desperation rather than political conviction.
Key Takeaways
Vijayendra alleged on 20 October that Congress leaders are rebelling against CM D.K.
Shivakumar , making his chair 'shaking.' Vijayendra said the BJP would consult its senior leaders before deciding whether to join the all-party delegation to New Delhi on the sugarcane issue.
He asserted the BJP will remain in Opposition for the remaining one-and-a-half years and has no intent to destabilise the government.
He accused the Congress government of failing on development, drought relief, disability pensions, and road infrastructure in Karnataka .
He credited the NDA government with introducing MSP , ethanol policy, and value-addition measures for the sugar sector.
A Centre-appointed committee, involving Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Shivraj Singh Chouhan , is currently visiting Karnataka to examine the sugarcane crisis.
Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Tuesday, 20 October alleged that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's position was under threat from growing dissent within the ruling Indian National Congress (Congress), and accused Shivakumar of repeatedly blaming the Centre out of political desperation. The remarks came in response to Shivakumar's criticism that the BJP was not cooperating with the state government's efforts to convene an all-party meeting on the sugarcane farmers' crisis in Karnataka.
Vijayendra's Allegations Against Shivakumar
Vijayendra claimed that internal rebellion within the Congress was the real story behind Shivakumar's outward aggression toward the Centre. 'You have been observing the developments surrounding the sting operation. Congress leaders are rebelling against CM Shivakumar. In this background, he is repeatedly complaining against the Centre out of desperation,' Vijayendra alleged.
He insisted the BJP had no interest in destabilising the state government and would remain in the Opposition for the remaining one-and-a-half years of the Congress government's tenure. 'The BJP is in the Opposition as per the mandate of the people. There is no need for us to destabilise or bring down the Congress government. Senior leaders within the ruling party are preparing to rebel against CM Shivakumar. What I am saying is the truth,' he claimed.
BJP's Stand on the All-Party Delegation
On the question of joining an all-party delegation to New Delhi over the sugarcane farmers' issue, Vijayendra said the BJP would consult its Leaders of Opposition and senior party figures before arriving at a decision. 'We will sit with the Leaders of Opposition and senior leaders and discuss whether to join the ruling party's delegation to Delhi over the sugarcane farmers' issue,' he said. The measured response signals the BJP is keeping its options open without committing to a joint front with the ruling party.
Farmers' Distress and Governance Failures
Vijayendra levelled a broader attack on the Congress government's record on farmer welfare, infrastructure, and fiscal management. He alleged that agricultural communities across Karnataka had been in severe distress since the Congress came to power, and pointed to deteriorating road conditions around Bengaluru as evidence of governance failure. He also alleged that persons with disabilities were protesting on the streets over pending pension disbursements, and that drought relief had been inadequate.
'Even after three-and-a-half years, development has not taken off. The government has forgotten its priorities and is unable to think and act,' he alleged. He further accused the state government of raising the delimitation issue to create 'unnecessary confusion' while the Centre was already examining the matter.
Centre's Role in the Sugarcane Issue
Crediting the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government with supporting sugarcane growers, Vijayendra cited the introduction of a minimum support price (MSP), ethanol manufacturing opportunities, and value-addition policies for the sugar industry as Union government initiatives. He said the present agitation by sugarcane farmers centred on alleged irregularities in the weighing of produce at sugar factories and disputes over sugar recovery rate assessments.
Vijayendra added that Union Minister Pralhad Joshi had held discussions with Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and that a committee had been constituted to examine the issue, with its team visiting Karnataka. 'The Centre is examining possible solutions because the issue is not confined to Karnataka alone. The interests of farmers across the country and the international market must also be taken into consideration,' he said.
What Happens Next
The BJP's decision on joining the all-party delegation to Delhi is awaited following internal consultations. Meanwhile, the Centre-appointed committee's ongoing visit to Karnataka could shape the federal government's response to the sugarcane crisis. Whether Vijayendra's claims of internal Congress rebellion translate into visible political developments will be closely watched as Karnataka heads toward the final stretch of the current government's term.
Point of View
Against the Opposition and within its own ranks. Notably, BJP's non-committal answer on the all-party delegation keeps it in a position of leverage without the optics of obstructionism. The real question is whether Congress's reported internal tensions harden enough to become visible before the government's term ends — that outcome, more than any BJP move, will define Karnataka's political trajectory in the next eighteen months.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Karnataka BJP chief Vijayendra allege about CM Shivakumar?
Vijayendra alleged on 20 October that Congress leaders are actively rebelling against Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and that Shivakumar is repeatedly blaming the Centre out of desperation stemming from that internal pressure. He claimed Shivakumar's political position was unstable amid growing dissent within the Congress party.
Will the BJP join the all-party delegation to Delhi on the sugarcane issue?
The BJP has not yet decided. Vijayendra said the party would first hold consultations with its Leaders of Opposition and senior leaders before taking a call on joining the ruling party's delegation to New Delhi over the sugarcane farmers' crisis.
What is the sugarcane farmers' issue in Karnataka?
The current agitation by Karnataka's sugarcane farmers centres on alleged irregularities in the weighing of their produce at sugar factories and disputes over sugar recovery rate assessments. A committee constituted with Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Shivraj Singh Chouhan involved is currently visiting the state to examine the matter.
What is the BJP's stated position on destabilising the Karnataka government?
Vijayendra explicitly said the BJP has no intention of destabilising the Congress government. He stated the party will remain in Opposition for the remaining one-and-a-half years of the government's tenure, as mandated by the electorate.
What governance failures did Vijayendra highlight against the Karnataka Congress government?
Vijayendra alleged failures across multiple areas — poor road conditions around Bengaluru, inadequate drought relief, pending disability pensions leading to street protests, deteriorating state finances, and an inability to deliver development even after three-and-a-half years in power.
