BJP criticises Karnataka CM Shivakumar's remark on MLAs having two marriages

BENGALURU — The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a sharp attack on Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar following his controversial remarks in the State Legislative Assembly, where he claimed that several politicians who relocated to Bengaluru ended up marrying twice. The opposition party condemned the statement as inappropriate for the floor of the House, accusing the Congress leadership of trivializing serious legislative debates on urban infrastructure and public issues into sensational personal commentary.

Flashpoint in the Assembly

The uproar began during a session in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly dedicated to discussing Bengaluru's rapid urbanization, infrastructure expansion, and regional water supply issues. Addressing the Assembly, Deputy CM Shivakumar—who also holds the portfolio for Bengaluru City Development—was illustrating how the state capital draws people from every corner of Karnataka, including elected representatives who choose to settle down permanently in the metropolis.

However, the debate took an unexpected turn when Shivakumar made off-the-cuff remarks about the personal lives of legislators.

"People who come to Bengaluru once simply do not return to their native places; the climate and Cauvery water here have that kind of effect," Shivakumar remarked in the House. "Several MLAs who moved to Bengaluru from various districts have married twice. I have the complete history and a list of dozens of such legislators, but I will not unpack all those personal details here."

The statement immediately caused a stir across the aisle, with lawmakers expressing shock and amusement at the unexpected personal reference during an official debate on state governance.

BJP Hits Back hard

The opposition BJP wasted no time in seizing upon the statement, calling out the Deputy Chief Minister for degrading the decorum of the Legislative Assembly. Senior BJP leaders argued that at a time when Karnataka faces pressing issues regarding civic infrastructure, urban traffic, and rural development, senior ministers ought to focus on governance rather than monitoring the private lives of public figures.