Opposition Gears Up for Vidhana Soudha Siege Over Valmiki Corporation Scam

The political landscape in Karnataka is set for a major confrontation as the opposition BJP and JD(S) alliance has announced a 'Vidhana Soudha Chalo' protest on August 24, 2026. The demonstration aims to demand the resignation and removal of Planning and Statistics Minister B Nagendra from the cabinet, citing his alleged involvement in the multi-crore Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation scam. The opposition alleges that funds amounting to ₹187 crore were illegally diverted from the corporation's accounts. The controversy intensified after reports surfaced of financial irregularities within the corporation. Minister Nagendra had previously resigned from the Siddaramaiah Cabinet on June 6, 2024, amidst the initial public outcry and investigations into the scam, but was re-inducted into the Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's cabinet on August 3, 2026, with a new portfolio. This re-induction has fueled the opposition's demand for his immediate removal, leading to disruptions in both houses of the state legislature throughout the past week. Leader of the Opposition, R Ashoka, stated that the BJP workers have been staging protests and dharnas across the state, emphasizing that the agitation will continue both inside and outside the legislature until the government addresses their concerns and takes decisive action against the minister. The scam, which originally involved allegations of ₹89 crore illegal transfers, escalated to an estimated ₹187 crore, making it a significant point of contention in Karnataka's current political affairs.