Bengaluru, 21 August

Karnataka Legislative Assembly proceedings witnessed disruptions for the fifth consecutive day on Friday, with opposition staging a protest in the House, demanding removal of Minister B Nagendra, who is facing charges in connection with the alleged embezzlement of crores of rupees at a state-run corporation, from the Cabinet.

As soon as the House convened for the day, the BJP and JD(S) raised the issue, and by shouting slogans, demanded that Nagendra be dropped from the Cabinet immediately.

Amid the protest, Speaker G S Pail asked Minister K H Muniyappa to respond to questions raised by members. He then asked Deputy Speaker Mankal Vaidya to table certain petitions and reports in the House.

The Speaker then took up bills for the House's consideration and passage.

The three bills that were passed by the Assembly, without any discussion, amid opposition's protest are: Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Management) Bill, 2026; Karnataka Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Bill, 2026; and Karnataka Municipalities (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

The Speaker then laid the replies to calling attention notices by members, and adjourned the House for the day.

Nagendra, who resigned from the previous Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet following allegations of embezzling money at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation, was inducted into the D K Shivakumar-led Ministry on August 3. He is now the Minister for Planning and Statistics.

ED had arrested the Ballari MLA in the Valmiki corporation scam case in July 2024, and a Special Court in Bengaluru granted him bail in October that year.

Nagendra has been named in the chargesheet by the ED and CBI in connection with the case.