Karnataka BJP escalates Valmiki scam fight, plans overnight Assembly dharna

The BJP on Monday stepped up its confrontation with the state government, announcing an overnight dharna inside the Assembly and demanding the removal of Planning & Statistics Minister B Nagendra over the alleged Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation scam.

The Opposition, which has disrupted Assembly proceedings for several days, entered the well of the House along with JD(S) MLAs and prevented the government from transacting legislative business.

Nagendra is facing an Enforcement Directorate money-laundering case arising from the alleged diversion of funds from the corporation, which implements welfare schemes for Scheduled Tribe communities.


Opposition leader R Ashoka alleged in the assembly that Congress leaders had benefited from the alleged Rs 187 crore scam and accused the government of shielding Nagendra. The Congress government has rejected the Opposition's allegations.

Ashoka said the Opposition expected the government to take a decision on Nagendra’s continuance in the Cabinet and questioned whether the government was willing to disrupt the functioning of the legislature to protect one minister.

Earlier in the day, BJP state president BY Vijayendra and Ashoka led party legislators in a protest outside Vidhana Soudha, demanding Nagendra’s immediate removal. The BJP and JD(S) have been protesting the minister’s re-induction into the Cabinet, keeping the issue alive through the ongoing Assembly session.

The BJP had blocked legislative business for much of the previous week, allowing the government to conduct only limited proceedings.

Bills passed

The Legislative Council on Monday passed two bills amid Opposition protests — the Karnataka Municipalities (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Karnataka Apartment Ownership and Management Bill, 2026.

Nagendra, the Ballari Rural MLA, resigned as Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister in 2024 after allegations surfaced of the diversion of funds from the Valmiki corporation. He has denied wrongdoing and was re-inducted into the Cabinet in the recent expansion.