Bengaluru, Mar 28 (PTI) Calling the decision to allot two IPL tickets to MLAs “VIP culture”, senior Karnataka BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar on Saturday said he does not want them.
He expressed surprise that the government was eager to make such an announcement just 24 hours after the discussion in the Assembly.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said on Friday that the KSCA had agreed to provide two tickets per MLA for the IPL match on March 28 at the city’s Chinnaswamy Stadium.
IPL 2026 kicked off here with Royal Challengers Bengaluru facing Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening match.
Shivakumar had met officials of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, which manages the stadium, a day after legislators across party lines raised the issue in the Assembly regarding improper ticketing and seating arrangements at the city’s premier venue.
During the discussion, Speaker U T Khader had asked the government to ensure that every MLA receives four VIP tickets for matches at the stadium.
Kumar also wrote to the Speaker on Saturday, declining the IPL match tickets.
“As per my conscience, I politely decline to accept any IPL match ticket or pass issued by the government or the KSCA. Therefore, please do not issue any ticket or pass in my name,” he said in his letter.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, responding to a reporter’s question in Mysuru about Kumar’s stand, said, “If someone does not want the tickets, that is fine. Whoever wants to watch the match can go.” When asked whether discussing IPL tickets for MLAs in the Assembly was appropriate, he said, “Tickets were given by the KSCA to MLAs and MLCs in the past as well. Even now, they are giving tickets—this time, instead of one, they have been asked to give two. That’s all.” The CM said he would try to attend the match if time permitted. “It won’t be possible until April 9 due to the by-elections,” he added.
Earlier in the day, Kumar said in a statement, “The state government, led by Siddaramaiah, claims to be socialist. It is truly surprising and unfortunate that VIP culture continues even under the rule of this self-proclaimed socialist CM.” “Oh, I forgot! When RCB won the IPL last year, we all saw how this same ‘Samajwadi’ chief minister took his grandson to the victory stage built in front of the Vidhana Soudha,” he added, taking a dig at the government.
Referring to the Assembly proceedings on March 26, he said a non-partisan discussion unexpectedly began on the Chinnaswamy Stadium, IPL matches, and MLAs allegedly being denied tickets and respect.
“I wanted to intervene and speak, but I was surprised that the Speaker himself joined the discussion, so I restrained myself,” he said.
“The question being asked everywhere after the Assembly session is whether legislators discuss the problems of the common people or focus on the facilities, privileges, status and honours they desire,” he added.
The former minister noted that following the stampede incident in June last year—in which eleven people were killed outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium during RCB’s IPL victory celebrations—the Assembly had held discussions in which many expressed anger and grief.
“However, today, in the same Vidhana Soudha, there is an intense discussion about tickets for the same IPL matches, along with demands for respect. This has further increased public contempt for politicians,” he said.
“We all call ourselves public servants, and it is surprising that ‘VIP culture’ is being rewarded today,” he added, citing media reports that each MLA would be given two tickets for the upcoming IPL match.
“This is definitely not the right decision,” he said.
Also expressing surprise at the government’s eagerness to make such an announcement within 24 hours of the Assembly discussion, Kumar said people were questioning how quickly matters concerning MLAs are addressed.
“In this context, I humbly refuse the passes or tickets that I have learnt, through the media, are being given to MLAs. To put it bluntly, I do not want those tickets,” he said.
“We should all remember that the more we continue to promote this ‘VIP culture’, the smaller we, as politicians, will appear in the eyes of the common people,” Kumar added. PTI KSU SSK
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