A political storm erupted in Karnataka on Monday after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah publicly expressed his discontent over being excluded from the inauguration of the Kalasavalli–Ambargondlu Bridge, a major infrastructure project in the state. The CM accused the central government of violating protocol and bowing to political pressure from local BJP leaders, triggering a wider boycott of the event by the ruling Congress party.
The Chief Minister claimed that he had personally called Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and requested a postponement of the inauguration, which Gadkari initially agreed to. However, the program proceeded as scheduled, reportedly under pressure from the state BJP leadership. Siddaramaiah asserted that no formal invitation had been extended to him or his ministers.
As a mark of protest, the Congress has chosen to boycott the event altogether. Congress MLAs from the region, the District Minister, and the Minister for Public Works have also stayed away, aligning with the Chief Minister’s stand. The CM emphasized that while the state government continues to extend cooperation to national projects like railways, such unilateral actions undermine federal harmony.
The Kalasavalli–Ambargondlu Bridge is seen as a key link for improving connectivity in the region. However, the political sparring over the inauguration has overshadowed the development milestone, with accusations now flying about attempts to politicize infrastructure achievements and create friction between the Centre and the state.
