BJP Slams Shivakumar’s ‘Letter Diplomacy’ on Drought; Demands ₹50,000/Acre for Karnataka Farmers
Political Bureau, Bangalore Mail
Bengaluru | July 15, 2026
BENGALURU: Mounting a sharp offensive against the ruling Congress government, Karnataka BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra has demanded an immediate drought compensation of ₹50,000 per acre for affected farmers. He accused Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of engaging in “letter-writing diplomacy” rather than taking concrete action on the ground.
The political spat escalated after Chief Minister Shivakumar wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting the urgent deployment of a central team to assess the state’s worsening drought. Shivakumar highlighted a 30% rainfall deficit and delayed monsoon, which have severely impacted reservoir levels, drinking water availability, and agricultural activities across Karnataka.
BJP Questions Lack of Ground Action
Responding sharply on social media platform X, Vijayendra challenged the Chief Minister to present a transparent account of what the state government has actually done to mitigate the crisis.
“Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, instead of merely writing letters to the Prime Minister whenever there is a drought, present before the people what you and your government have actually done for drought relief,” Vijayendra stated. He reminded the CM of his previous promise during a Kalaburagi review meeting to appoint ministers to study the drought situation on the ground.
The BJP leader claimed that Karnataka’s administration remains paralyzed by internal conflicts, pointing out a lack of coordination within the cabinet:
No Dedicated Agriculture Minister: The state currently lacks a focused minister for the agriculture portfolio.
Ministers Absent on the Ground: He accused key ministers—including Deputy CM G. Parameshwara (holding Revenue) and others handling vital portfolios like Rural Development, Industries, and Transport—of being preoccupied with political drama, renaming local bodies, or traveling outside the state instead of assessing crop damage.
Call for Immediate Interim Relief
With district-level Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) meetings stalled, Vijayendra urged the Chief Minister to put aside commercial interests and prioritize the plight of rural communities.
“Provide immediate drought relief. Give ₹50,000 as drought compensation to our struggling farmers,” the BJP chief demanded.
Vijayendra added that while the Union government is concerned about Karnataka’s situation, the state cabinet must stop waiting for a central team and release interim relief funds from its own treasury immediately.
