Karnataka CM Boycotts Shivamogga Bridge Event, Sparks Row with Centre!
Siddaramaiah and Karnataka ministers skip the grand Sigandur bridge inauguration, alleging no invitation
On July 14, 2025, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated India’s second-longest cable-stayed bridge, the Sigandur bridge, in Shivamogga, Karnataka, a significant infrastructure project costing Rs 472 crore. Constructed over the Sharavathi river backwaters between Ambaragodlu and Kalasavalli in Sagara taluk, the bridge is set to drastically reduce travel distances for villagers accessing the revered Chowdeshwari temple in Sigandur, enhancing connectivity and boosting local economies. However, the event was overshadowed by a major political controversy as Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, along with his cabinet colleagues, including the Public Works Department Minister and the district in-charge Minister, boycotted the inauguration, claiming they were not invited by the Central government.
Siddaramaiah, speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, stated he had a pre-scheduled event in Indi taluk, Vijayapura district, planned a month in advance, and was not informed about the bridge event. He accused local BJP leaders of pressuring Gadkari to proceed without consulting the state government, violating federal protocol.
In a letter dated July 11 to Gadkari, shared by the CM’s office on July 13, Siddaramaiah urged postponement, emphasizing that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) should have coordinated with the state government for such a significant event. He declared the boycott a mark of protest, stating, “None of us are going, neither I nor the PWD Minister nor the Sagara MLA,” and questioned who initiated the friction, asserting that the Centre’s oversight breached cooperative federalism.
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Refuting these claims, Gadkari took to X, asserting that an official invitation was extended to Siddaramaiah on July 11 to preside over the event, with a follow-up letter on July 12 offering virtual participation to accommodate any scheduling conflicts. Gadkari shared both letters on X, emphasizing the Central government’s commitment to established protocols and cooperative federalism, while appreciating Karnataka’s contributions.
BJP MP B Y Raghavendra, representing Shivamogga, further escalated the row, stating on X that he personally invited the CM on July 9. He criticized Siddaramaiah for claiming the invitation was late, calling it an insult to the people of the Sharavathi backwaters region, who have awaited the bridge for six decades. Raghavendra urged the CM to retract his statement and avoid politicizing a project reflecting the aspirations of thousands.
The event saw attendance from Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, senior BJP leader B S Yediyurappa, and other BJP figures, but the absence of state leaders underscored the growing Centre-State rift. The controversy has sparked debates over protocol and political one-upmanship, with the BJP accusing the Congress-led state government of playing politics over development, while Siddaramaiah’s camp insists the Centre disregarded federal norms.
As the Sigandur bridge promises transformative connectivity for Shivamogga, the political standoff threatens to overshadow its significance, raising questions about coordination between the Centre and states in India’s federal framework.
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