Siddaramaiah counters Kerala CM, defends eviction drive in Bengaluru

The removal of slum dwellers in Bengaluru has led the political rift between the Congress rule Karnataka and the ruling CPM in Kerala. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy, D K Shivakumar, defended the action, insisting the evictions were necessary due to the illegal occupation of government land. However, they also emphasized their commitment to resettling the displaced, many of whom are migrants, through alternative housing schemes.The chief minister said he has asked the Greater Bengaluru Authority chief commissioner and the Urban Development Department secretary to make alternative arrangements for those evicted "because most of them are migrants".

The Karnataka Congress also dismissed Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan's criticism of "bulldozer action" to evict minorities from a Bengaluru locality. The party insisting they cannot allow setting up of slums in the city and asked Pinarayi to focus on his state. Shivakumar labeled Vijayan's comments as election posturing ahead of Kerala's upcoming polls. Without knowing the facts, Pinarayi should not interfere in our state's affairs, he said. According to Shivakumar, the slum dwellers came and "captured" the land overnight. Barring a few, most of the encroachers are outsiders, he said. "We can't encourage slums like this. It is a site meant for waste management," Shivakumar said.

VIDEO | Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) says, “Senior leaders like Pinarayi Vijayan should understand the reality in Bengaluru. The site in question is a dangerous quarry pit meant for solid waste dumping and was illegally occupied. The government and… pic.twitter.com/cMaYLuTpWZ

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 27, 2025

Karnataka BJP Chief BY Vijayendra advised Kerala CM to tale care of his state. He also alleged that people are fed up with the Siddaramaiah government’s minority appeasement politics. He said, Siddaramaiah, has failed on many fronts. Corruption in Karnataka is increasing day by day. Recently, Rs 14.5 crore was seized from the PA of Minister Zameer Ahmed... We question this government and expose the Congress in the state.

VIDEO | Bengaluru: On Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s remark on “bulldozer justice”, Karnataka BJP chief Vijayendra says, “Let the Kerala CM take care of his state. People are fed up with the Siddaramaiah government’s minority appeasement politics.”#Bengaluru… pic.twitter.com/nQEaQmdsu5

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 27, 2025

In his post, the Kerala chief minister earlier said the incident reflected a form of minority-targeting politics seen earlier in north India and warned that such practices were now spreading to the south. He alleged that entire families were forced out of their homes in harsh winter conditions and pushed onto the streets, leaving them with no choice but to flee.

As the controversy escalated, Congress high command said the Karnataka government should have exercised "far greater caution, sensitivity and compassion". Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal said he spoke to Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar regarding the demolition of unauthorised constructions in the Kogilu village. "Conveyed the AICC’s serious concern that such actions should have been undertaken with far greater caution, sensitivity, and compassion, keeping the human impact at the centre," Venugopal said.

(State Correspondent)