Bengaluru

The Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Express is expected to launch in November 2026, improving rail connectivity between Karnataka and Maharashtra. The new service is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities to less than 20 hours.

Actor-activist Prakash Raj and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee joined a protest at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park on October 8, organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and supporters. Protesters demanded the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing alleged wrongful voter deletions.

Bengaluru’s Freedom Park is witnessing a high-profile mobilisation around the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, with CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke joined by Dhruv Rathee and actor-activist Prakash Raj.

Dhruv Rathee and Prakash Raj are participating in a People's Tribunal organised in Bengaluru over concerns raised by protesters about the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, followed by a symbolic chappal protest.

A fresh political controversy has erupted in Karnataka's electoral-roll revision process after an FIR was registered over alleged fraudulent Form-7 applications seeking deletion of 5,698 voters in Bengaluru's Jayanagar constituency.

Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar has alleged that BJP and JD(S) figures were involved in attempts to delete eligible voters through bulk Form-7 applications during the SIR exercise. Multiple complaints and FIRs have emerged over disputed voter-deletion applications, while election authorities have directed officials to investigate false submissions.

Karnataka BJP has criticised the Congress-led state government over reported financial pressures, questioning government spending and funding for development projects as the Finance Department raises caution over expenditure and revenue availability.

Mahadev Prasad is a journalist who covers Karnataka politics, government affairs and developments in the state.

A Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Karnataka High Court challenging the state government’s decision to restrict the singing of Vande Mataram to its first two stanzas at official events. The petition has raised questions over the state government’s authority and its alignment with a Union government directive.

Karnataka is one of India's politically significant states, with strong competition between major political parties and a wide range of regional and local issues. Governance, development, employment, agriculture and infrastructure continue to shape the state's political debate.

Karnataka politics is witnessing renewed discussion over governance as the D.K. Shivakumar-led government completes 100 days in office. Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has praised the government's direction while calling for continued focus on electoral guarantees, drought management and public expectations.

The Karnataka government has directed that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram be sung at state government programmes, with an exception for events attended by the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister or Governor. The decision has triggered political discussion in the state.