Siddaramaiah's proposal to name Shivajinagar metro station after St Mary sparks row

Bengaluru,UPDATED: Sep 11, 2025 22:10 IST

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s announcement that the state government will recommend naming the upcoming metro station in Shivajinagar after St Mary has triggered a political storm, with opposition BJP and even Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis strongly objecting to the move.

The proposed station is part of the under-construction Pink Line of Bengaluru Metro.

Speaking at the annual feast of St Mary’s Basilica on September 8, Siddaramaiah said, “There is a proposal to name a metro station after St. Mary. Rizwan and I have spoken about it because Rizwan is the MLA of this constituency. I will make a recommendation to the central government.”

BJP leaders have slammed the recommendation and accused the Congress government of indulging in “appeasement politics.”

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy said, “Will they remove the name Shivajinagar? They should not go beyond the limits for pleasing someone. Appeasement has become the first choice of the Congress party. Because of appeasement, the party has gone to dogs now, still they are doing appeasement politics. It will not work. We will not allow it.”

- Ends