Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Vijayendra says BJP will continue to stand by Bidadi farmers
Farmers in a town called Bidadi are worried because the government wants to build a big new township on their farmland.
The farmers do not want to give up their land, and they have been protesting about it.
A political party called the BJP says it is on the farmers' side and will keep supporting them.
The BJP's leader in Karnataka, Vijayendra, told reporters that there is no confusion about this.
The BJP had planned to join a long march, called a padayatra, with another party called the JD-S to show support for the farmers.
The march was delayed because the wife of a former Prime Minister passed away.
Vijayendra also said that the Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, is taking two different positions on the farmers' land.
The BJP says the government is building the township at the cost of farmers' interests, and it will not compromise on protecting farmers' land and rights.
Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra said there is no confusion over the party's support for Bidadi farmers opposing the proposed Bidadi Township project.
The BJP extended symbolic support to a JD-S-led padayatra, which was postponed after the death of Channamma Deve Gowda, wife of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda.
Vijayendra denied having any inappropriate or indirect conversation with Minister Madhu Bangarappa, saying he spoke to him directly and clearly.
Vijayendra accused Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of adopting a dual stand on the issue of farmers' land in Bidadi.
The BJP accused the Congress government of pursuing the Bidadi Township project at the cost of farmers' interests and backed farmers' protests against land acquisition.
- Who
- Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra, JD-S leaders H.D. Kumaraswamy and Nikhil Kumaraswamy, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and Bidadi farmers.
- What
- The BJP reaffirmed its support for Bidadi farmers opposing the proposed Bidadi Township project and clarified its symbolic backing of a JD-S-led padayatra.
- When
- On Tuesday, when Vijayendra spoke to reporters in Bengaluru; the padayatra was recently postponed after Channamma Deve Gowda's death.
- Where
- Bengaluru and Bidadi in Karnataka, India.
- Why
- The BJP says it will not compromise on protecting farmers' land and rights, and it accuses the Congress government of pursuing the project at the cost of farmers' interests.
BJP and farmers' side
Congress government side
Bidadi Township project
BJP and farmers' side
The BJP opposes the proposed Bidadi Township project, saying the Congress government is pursuing it at the cost of farmers' interests and should not acquire farmers' land.
Congress government side
The state government continues to pursue the proposed township project and land acquisition, and some farmers have accepted compensation and withdrawn from the agitation.
Nature of BJP's support
BJP and farmers' side
Vijayendra says the BJP's symbolic support to the padayatra should not be interpreted as only symbolic support to the farmers' struggle; the party fully stands with farmers.
Congress government side
The BJP's backing was officially described as 'symbolic support' after its core committee meeting, and Vijayendra himself did not participate in the march.
- Event
- Farmers' agitation against the proposed Bidadi Township project
- Speaker
- Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra
- BJP's stand
- Will continue to stand by farmers; no compromise on farmers' land and rights
- Padayatra partner
- JD-S; new date announced by Nikhil Kumaraswamy
- Why padayatra was postponed
- Death of Channamma Deve Gowda, wife of former PM H.D. Deve Gowda
- BJP's support to padayatra
- Symbolic support decided at BJP core committee; inauguration attended by R. Ashoka
- Allegation against CM
- D.K. Shivakumar adopting a dual stand on Bidadi farmers' land
- Allegation against government
- Congress government pursuing the project at the cost of farmers' interests