Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Former PM Devegowda Questions Shivakumar's Bidadi Project Revival Move
A very old leader named Mr. Devegowda, who was once the Prime Minister of India, walked with farmers to protest a big building project.
The project, called the Bidadi Township, would put homes and offices on farmland near Bengaluru.
The farmers are worried they will lose their land.
Mr. Devegowda asked the Chief Minister why he started the project again.
He said he will keep fighting for the farmers and will never go back on his promise.
The Chief Minister said the project is good because it will be a new business center for the city.
He also said the protest was not joined by people who live near Bidadi, but by people brought from other places.
Both leaders said protests should happen in a peaceful, democratic way.
A big meeting about the project will happen on August 18.
Former Prime Minister H.D. Devegowda questioned Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's rationale for reviving the Bidadi Township project immediately after becoming Chief Minister.
The Bidadi Township project was originally envisaged by the Janata Dal Secular and Bharatiya Janata Party alliance government in 2006-07 and later revived by the incumbent Congress government.
Devegowda led a padayatra from Byramangala to Freedom Park in Bengaluru, vowing that his fight against the project will continue and that he stands by farmers.
Chief Minister Shivakumar defended the project, saying it would become the second Central Business District of Bengaluru.
Shivakumar alleged no one from the Bidadi vicinity joined the padayatra and that people were ferried from other districts, while Devegowda said he will reveal all details at an August 18 meeting at Freedom Park.
- Who
- H.D. Devegowda, former Prime Minister and Janata Dal Secular president, and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of Karnataka.
- What
- A political dispute over the revival of the Bidadi Township project, with Devegowda leading a farmers' padayatra against it.
- When
- The padayatra took place on Monday; a meeting to reveal project details is scheduled for August 18.
- Where
- From Byramangala, an affected village, to Freedom Park in Bengaluru; the project concerns land at Bidadi.
- Why
- Devegowda says the project harms farmers, while Shivakumar says it will become Bengaluru's second Central Business District.
Project Opponents
Project Supporters
Timing and Motive of Revival
Project Opponents
Devegowda says Shivakumar revived the project immediately after becoming Chief Minister while staying quiet for three years as Deputy Chief Minister, accusing him of fulfilling a promise to central Congress leaders.
Project Supporters
Shivakumar implied Devegowda joined the protest for the political future of his grandson, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, rather than for the project itself.
Protest Participation
Project Opponents
Devegowda framed the padayatra as a farmers' protest from affected villages like Byramangala and said his fight stands with the farmers.
Project Supporters
Shivakumar alleged none of the Bidadi vicinity participated and that people were ferried in from other districts.
Police Conduct
Project Opponents
Devegowda alleged the ruling Congress party pressured police to act against the padayatra protesters.
Project Supporters
Shivakumar stated that protesters should be allowed to protest in a democratic set-up.
- Project
- Bidadi Township project
- Originally Envisaged
- 2006-07, by JDS-BJP alliance government
- Status
- Dormant for years, revived by Congress government
- Government Vision
- Second Central Business District of Bengaluru
- Protest Event
- Padayatra from Byramangala to Freedom Park, Bengaluru
- Upcoming Meeting
- August 18 at Freedom Park, Bengaluru
- Devegowda's Age
- 93 years
- Affected Village
- Byramangala