Bidadi Township Project likely to emerge as major political test for Congress in Karnataka

A sustained farmers’ agitation against the proposed Bidadi Township Project, which has gathered momentum in the last few days, could pose a significant political challenge to the Congress, particularly in the Old Mysore region where the party and the BJP–JD(S) alliance are locked in an intense political contest.

Apart from farmers, the BJP and the JD(S) have opposed the acquisition of agricultural land for the project, which requires about 9,600 acres spread across nine revenue villages and 16 non-revenue villages in and around Bidadi, located about 40 km from Bengaluru.

Amid a political slugfest over a proposed debate on the project between Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, the township proposal is emerging as an issue with the potential to reshape political equations in the region.

While the Congress is keen to consolidate its electoral gains in the Old Mysore region during the 2023 Assembly elections, the JD(S), which has traditionally enjoyed a strong rural base there, sees the issue as an opportunity to regain its lost ground by mobilising affected farmers. The BJP, meanwhile, appears to be using the controversy to expand its footprint in the region.

The Congress government has projected itself as both welfare-orientated and development-focused. It views the township project as a major urban infrastructure initiative that could help decongest Bengaluru, attract investments, and generate employment.

Mr. Shivakumar, who has strongly backed the project, ruled out any denotification of acquired land, stating that reversing the process could expose him to legal consequences. If implemented successfully, the township could bolster his image as a leader capable of delivering large-scale urban transformation projects. However, prolonged protests and political opposition could provide ammunition to rivals within and outside the Congress, particularly if the issue translates into electoral setbacks.

The politicians and the farmers are aware that the Singur and the Nandigram land acquisition controversies in West Bengal had dramatically altered that State's political landscape in 2007-08. The BJP and the JD(S) are likely to use the Bidadi project to amplify farmers’ concerns and portray it as a symbol of alleged government insensitivity towards rural interests.

Bidadi and its surrounding areas have witnessed a sharp rise in land values owing to their proximity to Bengaluru and the Bengaluru–Mysuru highway. Farmers and Opposition parties argue that the project could result in the loss of fertile agricultural land, displacement of local communities and erosion of livelihoods. They have also sought to portray the initiative as pro-corporate and favourable to real-estate interests, challenging the Congress government’s claim that the project is intended primarily to ease pressure on Bengaluru and promote planned urban growth.

The political ramifications of the controversy could extend beyond Bengaluru South district. With elections to Bengaluru’s civic bodies expected, the township issue may also influence political narratives in urban constituencies, making it a test case for the Congress government’s ability to balance development ambitions with farmers’ concerns.