Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday launched a strong counterattack against Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda amid the ongoing political controversy over the proposed Bidadi Township Project. Shivakumar said criticism against him was linked to his rise in state politics and claimed that some leaders were unable to accept his position as Chief Minister.

Addressing a press conference at Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar said he was not unfamiliar with legal battles and dismissed repeated claims by political opponents that he would face imprisonment. “Jail is not new for me, and some people have not been able to digest the fact that I have become Chief Minister,” he said, accusing the Janata Dal (Secular) leadership of attempting to block his political growth.

Taking aim at H.D. Kumaraswamy, Shivakumar said the Union Minister had repeatedly predicted that he would go to jail. The Chief Minister said he wished Kumaraswamy well in his efforts and added that previous legal cases against him had been dismissed by the Supreme Court. He claimed that despite challenges, he had emerged stronger politically and continued to receive public support.

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The remarks come amid increasing political competition between Shivakumar and the Deve Gowda family for influence among the Vokkaliga community, a key electoral group in South Karnataka. All three leaders — Shivakumar, Kumaraswamy, and Deve Gowda — belong to the Vokkaliga community, which has significant political importance in the region.

Addressing protests related to the Bidadi Township Project, Shivakumar urged senior citizens and women not to participate in demonstrations against the government. He said he did not want elderly people to protest near public places such as the Mahatma Gandhi statue and added that he was ready to face criticism if he had harmed people’s livelihoods. He also denied allegations that the government was planning forced land acquisition for the project.

Shivakumar said land acquisition for public infrastructure projects had taken place under successive governments across Karnataka, including for airports, irrigation projects, and urban development initiatives. He cited examples of farmers who had given land near Bengaluru in earlier decades and later saw property values increase. He said the Bidadi Township Project was not his personal initiative and announced plans to form an expert panel while accusing political opponents of misleading farmers over the issue.

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