KSCA gives in to MLA demands for IPL tickets in Bengaluru, Tejasvi Surya calls it VIP culture

Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Cricketers Association (KSCA) has agreed to a request to give tickets to the State’s MLAs, MLCs and MPs to watch the IPL matches on March 28 and April 5 in Bengaluru.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play with Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday and with Chennai Super Kings on April 5 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The KSCA has agreed to arrange two VIP tickets for each lawmaker for Saturday’s match and three for April 5 match, according to sources.

The decision followed a meeting between Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and KSCA President Venkatesh Prasad on a direction from Assembly Speaker UT Khader. The Speaker came under pressure from MLAs from across the political spectrum who raised a demand at Thursday’s assembly session for tickets for lawmakers for the matches played in Bengaluru. The MLAs also alleged the KSCA does not treat them with due respect that they deserve as lawmakers.


At this point, Shivakumar agreed to talk to KSCA, of which he is also a member.

Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya (BJP), however, took objection to the demand from the lawmakers. “Had the Karnataka MLAs spent time in the Vidhana Soudha discussing safety and security preparedness for IPL fans, it would have upheld the dignity of the House. Instead, we saw MLAs pleading and even threatening for free tickets for themselves and their families. This is not just a poor priority. It exposes a deeper problem - a VIP mindset that sees public office as entitlement,” he said in a post on X.

“Why should any sports body owe MLAs anything? Why should elected representatives expect privileges denied to ordinary citizens? Public office is not a privilege. It is a responsibility. This culture must end,” he said.