CM Siddaramaiah Alleges Protocol Violation Over Bridge Inauguration, Boycotts Event

By A Staff Reporter

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday alleged a breach of protocol and deliberate political exclusion after his absence from the inauguration ceremony of the Kalasavalli–Ambargondlu Bridge triggered controversy. Addressing the issue, the Chief Minister stated that he had requested Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to postpone the event, a proposal he claimed was initially accepted but later overruled due to pressure from local BJP leaders.

“I had called Nitin Gadkari and asked him to postpone the program. He said he would postpone it. But now, bowing to the pressure from local BJP leaders, they are going ahead with the event,” Siddaramaiah said. He further asserted that no official invitation had been extended to him or his ministers.

Accusing the BJP of violating established government protocol, Siddaramaiah said, “We always extend cooperation to railway projects — they invite us for those. But here, protocol has been violated. As a mark of protest, none of us is participating in the program.”

He added that Congress MLAs from the region, the District In-charge Minister, and the state’s Public Works Minister had also stayed away from the ceremony. The Chief Minister accused the Centre of attempting to “deliberately create a rift” between the central and state governments.