MLAs who come to Bengaluru don't go back, marry twice: Shivakumar sparks row

Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka called the remark unnecessary and asked Shivakumar to disclose the names. He said it had cast suspicion on every MLA who had moved to Bengaluru from elsewhere in the state.Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. (PTI photo)Bengaluru,Sep 25, 2026 23:12 ISTKarnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s claim that around a dozen MLAs who moved to Bengaluru had married twice has drawn criticism from the BJP, which has asked him to name them.Shivakumar made the remark in the Assembly on Thursday while speaking about Bengaluru’s growing population. He said people who came to the city tended to stay, then referred to legislators who had moved there from other parts of Karnataka.“MLAs who come to Bangalore don’t go back. Whoever came have been married twice. One dozen such instances. I can give the list. I’ve 40 experience I can give you examples. No one leaves Bangalore,” he said.Shivakumar indicated that he could name legislators from districts including Dharwad and Dakshina Kannada, but did not do so. Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka called the remark unnecessary and asked the chief minister to disclose the names. He said it had cast suspicion on MLAs who had moved to Bengaluru from elsewhere in the state.Senior BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar said the comment had created “unhealthy curiosity”. Even if Shivakumar had meant it as a joke, Kumar said, such a remark was inappropriate on the floor of the Assembly. He also asked the chief minister to name the legislators he was referring to. - Ends