BJP disrupts Karnataka Assembly demanding list of drought-hit taluks, exit of B. Nagendra from Cabinet

BJP disrupts Karnataka Assembly demanding list of drought-hit taluks, exit of B.

Key points

• Nagendra, Planning and Statistics Minister, faces allegations of wrong-doing over the alleged embezzlement of ₹187 crore in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.
• Pension income ceiling enhanced to ₹1.20 lakh, set to benefit over 20 lakh persons in Karnataka.
• After the Zero Hour, the Speaker adjourned the House for half-an-hour, and eventually for lunch as opposition members continued raising slogans from their seats against the administration.
• Nagendra be dropped from the Cabinet, and another legislator from the Scheduled Tribe community be inducted in his place.
• Water will be published from Tungabhadra dam in a couple of days, states Karnataka Minister.

BJP disrupts Karnataka Assembly demanding list of drought-hit taluks, exit of B. Nagendra from Cabinet Leader of Opposition R. Ashok remarked the administration had neither reviewed the situation nor prepared a list of taluks facing severe drought after a deficit monsoon. Published – August 20, 2026 04: 06 pm IST – BENGALURU.

B. Nagendra, Planning and Statistics Minister, faces allegations of wrong-doing over the alleged embezzlement of ₹187 crore in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. Photo Credit: File photo.

Leader of Opposition R. Ashok challenged the ruling Congress administration to first announce the drought-hit taluks in Karnataka before initiating a debate on the drought situation.

Against the backdrop of sloganeering against Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the induction of B. Nagendra into the State Cabinet, Mr. Ashok alleged that the administration was unaware of the prevailing drought situation. He remarked the administration had neither reviewed the situation nor prepared a list of taluks facing severe drought after a deficit monsoon.

Meanwhile, the opposition was ready to participate in a debate on the drought, he remarked, provided the administration first declared the affected areas and initiated measures to address the situation.

Higher Education Minister M.C. Sudhakar remarked the administration was ready for a debate on the drought provided the opposition co-operated by withdrawing its protest.

BJP members raised slogans demanding the sacking of Planning and Statistics Minister B. Nagendra over the alleged embezzlement of ₹187 crore in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. Mr. Ashok asserted that 31 cases were pending against Mr. Nagendra before the CBI, Enforcement Directorate, and Karnataka Lokayukta.

In practice, the BJP demanded that Mr. Nagendra be dropped from the Cabinet, and another legislator from the Scheduled Tribe community be inducted in his place.

Despite the protests and sloganeering, Speaker G.S. Patil proceeded with Question Hour. After the Zero Hour, the Speaker adjourned the House for half-an-hour, and eventually for lunch as opposition members continued raising slogans from their seats against the administration.

On August 19, the administration had defended the inclusion of Mr. Nagendra in the Cabinet. Hariprasad urges SIT probe into cooperative bank irregularities involving BJP MLA.

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In short, BJP disrupts Karnataka Assembly demanding list of drought-hit taluks, exit of B. Is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.