BJP and JD(S) MLAs during an overnight dharna at the Vidhana Soudha demanding the resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur in Bengaluru on February 3, 2026
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The BJP and the JD(S) MLAs began an overnight sleep-in protest on Tuesday inside the Vidhana Soudha demanding the resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur over the alleged corruption scandal in his department. Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition R. Ashok alleged that there was corruption to the tune of ₹6,000 crore in the department, referring to a letter by Guruswamy, president, Karnataka Wine Merchants’ Association, an Excise official being trapped by the Lokayukta police recently, and a purported audio conversation between an Excise official and a lawyer. However, the government pushed back and even Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said there was no need for the Minister to resign based on mere allegations. BJP and JD(S) MLAs during an overnight dharna at the Vidhana Soudha demanding the resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit:
special arrangement
Published: February 3, 2026 4:28 pm
Source: The Hindu — Read original