Differences in Opposition coalition again come to fore, with JD(S) deciding to stay out of Ballari padayatra

Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy at a press conference in Bengaluru on Friday. | Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN Amid differing opinions on the BJP padayatra from Lingasugur in Raichur to Ballari over the issue of B. Nagendra, the NDA partner Janata Dal (Secular) will not be taking part. According to JD(S) sources, neither the party nor its leaders were consulted before finalising the dates, and these dates were announced unilaterally.Since Mr. Nagendra has already resigned, the BJP is expanding the scope of the padayatra to protest against what it terms the Congress government’s “anti-poor, anti-farmers, anti-youth, and anti-development” government.Union Minister for Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy told presspersons here on Sunday that since he would be attending the AKKA event in the U.S., he would not be attending the padayatra. He is returning on September 12.Sources said that JD(S) youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy is also travelling to the U.S. to attend the AKKA event with his family around the same time.“I was not consulted on the issue. I do not know the subject for which they are taking out the padayatra. We were together in the Legislative Assembly over Mr. Nagendra’s issue. Our workers are free to go if they want to,” Mr. Kumaraswamy said.He said that before Mr. Nagendra’s resignation, he had asked his party colleagues to attend the padayatara symbolically. “I do not know the next step after Mr. Nagendra has resigned,” he added.It may be noted that BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra was, a few weeks ago, heard saying in his conversation with Minister Madhu Bangarappa that his party was offering only symbolic support to the JD(S) in its protest against the Bidadi township project, besides observing that several farmers were moving towards the government.Such differences had also emerged during the planning stage of the padayatra taken out by the BJP from Bengaluru to Mysuru over the MUDA issue, with the JD(S) expressing reservations. However, the JD(S) had later actively taken part in the MUDA padayatra after consultations with senior BJP leaders.The 10-day padayatra by the BJP is commencing from Guragunta, near Lingasagur, on September 1 and will traverse 170 km to Ballari.Sources said Mr. Kumaraswamy has conveyed his inability to attend the padayatra to Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashok and Mr. Vijayendra. He has, however, extended his support to the padayatra, sources said.Party sources also pointed out that differing opinions on whether the padayatra should be held or not in view of Mr. Nagendra’s resignation prevailed within the BJP. “The date was announced without consulting us, and the padayatra is being viewed as a BJP party event,” sources said.While announcing the details of the padayatra, Mr. Vijayaendra had said that the JD(S) would take part in the inaugural and valedictory programmes. He also said that he had spoken to Mr. Kumaraswamy and that he had extended support to the padayatra.Soon after Mr. Kumaraswamy’s remarks on him not being a part of the padayatra, Mr. Vijayendra told media persons that he would talk to him again. He said there was confusion about the padayatra among several leaders of both parties on whether it would go ahead as planned in the wake of Mr. Nagendra’s resignation. However, the padayatra’s focus was on eight to ten issues, of which Mr. Nagendra’s resignation was just one component. Hence, the BJP has decided to go ahead with the padayatra, he said.HDK says he will make shocking revelationsClaiming that he would expose something that would send shockwaves across the country after his return from the U.S., Mr. Kumaraswamy on Sunday said that he would speak about the kind of people ruling the State and that they would do whatever is possible to get power.Without taking Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s name, he asked: “What happened in Shanthinagar Housing Cooperative Society or the NTI Housing Cooperative Society and even NICE? Who is involved in this?”He said that he would release documents on the issue that would send shockwaves across the country. Published - August 30, 2026 08:40 pm IST