Ruling and opposition parties protest outside Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru over resignation of B. Nagendra for embezzlement in Valmiki corporation

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Police personnel attempting to stop BJP and JD(S) legislators’ protest demanding the resignation of Planning & Statistics Minister B. Nagendra, in Bengaluru on August 21, 2026. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

Even as the Legislature session this week was almost washed out by Opposition BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) seeking the resignation of Planning & Statistics Minister B. Nagendra , ruling and Opposition parties staged separate protests on Friday (August 21).

The ruling Congress leaders, including Mr. Nagendra himself, staged a protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue on the Vidhan Soudha premises, seeking smooth conduct of the Legislature session to discuss the drought and scarcity of drinking water and fodder in districts, and condemned the BJP-JD(S) for disrupting the session. Meanwhile, BJP legislators staged a protest in front of Maharshi Valmiki’s statue at a legislator’s house nearby, pressing for Mr. Nagendra’s resignation.

The two sides are sparring over Mr. Nagendra, who had resigned as Minister in 2024 after his name surfaced in the alleged embezzlement of ₹187 crore in the Maharshi Valmiki Development Corporation. He was inducted into the Cabinet a fortnight ago when Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expanded his ministry.

While #Karnataka BJP & JD(S) MLAs took out a protest rally from Valmiki statue to Vidhana Soudha demanding the resignation of Minister B. Nagendra, Congress leaders staged a counter protest against Opposition for not allowing the session to function, on Aug 21. 📹: @photomurali1 pic.twitter.com/UdhS9JUVQ2

The Opposition has been disrupting the Legislature sessions since August 17, with only a few sessions of Question Hour and Zero Hour being conducted, and a couple of bills cleared by the Legislative Assembly amid the din. They continued the protest on Friday as well inside both Houses.

Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly R. Ashok, who led the BJP protest, told presspersons, “The financial scam has robbed the poor belonging to the Scheduled Tribes community in Karnataka. The money has been transferred to multiple accounts, including one transfer of ₹1.2 crore to his family member. The Legislature’s business is getting affected because the Congress is trying to protect him.”

Congress leaders, led by State party president B.K. Hariprasad, along with Minister B. Nagendra, staging a protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on August 21, 2026. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

Releasing multiple documents pertaining to the alleged illegal transfer of money, he said that the corporation — under the watch of Mr. Nagendra then — violated rules and circulars of the Finance Department. “Three chargesheets have been filed by the CBI against him. There is a chargesheet by the Enforcement Directorate. In Lokayukta, there are 31 chargesheets.”

The BJP members, who were wearing black T-shirts sporting a message reading “corrupt Nagendra” during the protest, were prevented from entering the Legislature Assembly by marshals.