Congress leader alleges corruption in Shivamogga, points finger at Karnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa

Shivamogga Urban Development Authority (SUDA) Chairperson H.S. Sundaresh, who is a former president of the Shivamogga District Congress Committee. | Photo Credit: File photo Shivamogga Urban Development Authority (SUDA) Chairperson H.S. Sundaresh has alleged corruption in the district in the name of Minister for School Education Madhu Bangarappa, who is also the minister-in-charge of the district. Mr. Sundaresh is a former president of the Shivamogga District Congress Committee.Addressing a press conference in Shivamogga on September 23, Mr. Sundaresh said a few people close to the district in-charge Minister were demanding money from officers in the district. He alleged that a person close to the Minister had visited the SUDA office and demanded ₹25 lakh from the Commissioner. Another person was allegedly engaged in making money through the transfer of officials.Further, he said, the Congress party’s organisation had been growing weaker gradually in the district due to the unilateral decisions taken by the district in-charge Minister. Leaders who had built the party in the district over the decades were being sidelined, he said, and used expletives while criticising several party leaders.Mr. Sundaresh objected to the selection of H.C. Yogesh as president of the party’s district unit while expressing disappointment over not being chosen for the post himself. He demanded ministerial berths for Sagar MLA Belur Gopala Krishna and Bhadravati MLA B.K. Sangameshwara. He said he would soon meet senior party leaders with a demand for several changes in the party and the Cabinet, adding that he would quit the party, along with several other senior leaders, if his demands were not accepted. Published - September 23, 2026 02:53 pm IST