Bengaluru, August 23, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Karnataka BJP will lay siege to Vidhana Soudha on Monday, August 24, demanding the removal of Planning and Statistics Minister B. Nagendra over alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka said on Sunday.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP state headquarters, Ashoka said the protest would begin at 9.30 a.m. from Freedom Park, from where BJP workers would march towards Vidhana Soudha. BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra and other senior leaders are expected to join the protest.
The BJP and its ally JD(S) have been demanding Nagendra’s removal and have staged protests and day-and-night demonstrations across Karnataka over the issue. Ashoka said the agitation would continue until the minister steps down.
The controversy relates to alleged diversion of funds from the Valmiki Corporation. The issue surfaced in 2024 after the corporation’s accounts superintendent P. Chandrasekharan died by suicide, leaving behind allegations of financial irregularities. Investigations subsequently found that about Rs 89 crore had allegedly been transferred from the corporation’s Union Bank account, while the overall alleged diversion was later pegged at around Rs 187 crore.
Nagendra, who was the Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister when the allegations surfaced, resigned from the Karnataka Cabinet in June 2024. He was re-inducted into the cabinet on August 3, 2026, and was given the Planning and Statistics portfolio.
Ashoka alleged that the BJP had submitted documents concerning the alleged diversion of funds and accused the Congress government of attempting to shield Nagendra. He also questioned the Congress government’s position that Nagendra’s name did not figure in the CBI chargesheet, asking why the agency had sought the Governor’s permission to question him.
The BJP leader rejected allegations that the party was targeting Nagendra because he belongs to a Scheduled Tribe, saying the agitation was focused on accountability and the alleged misuse of funds meant for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes.
Ashoka also said the BJP would continue raising the issue both inside and outside the legislature and expressed confidence that Nagendra would resign.
The Congress government has rejected the opposition’s demand, while the investigation into the alleged financial irregularities continues.
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