The year 2025 was a tumultuous one for Karnataka, marked by political intrigue, legislative activism, public tragedies, and moments of international recognition.
Political Leadership Tussle
The Congress government faced internal leadership challenges, with a prolonged tug-of-war between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, who is also the state party president.
- Despite repeated public assurances from both leaders denying any discontent, Shivakumar’s camp openly pushed for a leadership change once the government crossed the halfway mark of its five-year term in November.
- The rivalry provided ample ammunition to the opposition BJP, which kept pressing on the narrative of instability.
- Shivakumar, however, publicly disavowed claims of seeking the CM post, insisting he was content as deputy CM and party worker.
Tragedy at M Chinnaswamy Stadium
On June 4, celebrations following the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first IPL title turned deadly:
- A stampede in the city’s central business district killed 11 people and injured more than 50.
- The tragedy exposed serious lapses in crowd management and emergency preparedness, leading to a temporary ban on hosting matches at the stadium and sparking demands for accountability.
Cultural Recognition Amid Controversy
Karnataka gained global attention when writer Banu Mushtaq and translator Deepa Bhasthi won the Booker Prize for “Heart Lamp”, highlighting Kannada literature on the world stage.
- Controversy followed when Mushtaq was invited to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara festivities.
- The BJP objected to her views on the Kannada language and Goddess Chamundeshwari, escalating the dispute to the Supreme Court, which ultimately allowed the inauguration to proceed.
Administrative Overhaul: Greater Bengaluru Governance Act
Implemented on May 15, the act split the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike into five municipal corporations, the most significant civic reorganisation in decades.
- Government’s argument: decentralisation would improve service delivery.
- Critics’ concern: coordination challenges and rising administrative costs.
Legislative Developments
The Karnataka Assembly passed key new laws:
- Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill 2025 – the first dedicated anti-hate speech law in southern India, prescribing prison terms of up to 7 years.
- Karnataka Social Boycott Prevention Prohibition and Redressal Bill – criminalising informal village councils imposing social sanctions, often linked to caste-based exclusion.
Crime and Policing
Several high-profile criminal cases and policing challenges emerged:
- Bidar: Armed robbery of ₹83 lakh for ATM refilling resulted in one death.
- Bengaluru: Police cracked a ₹7 crore robbery case involving a serving constable.
- Davanagere: Two sub-inspectors arrested in connection with a gold robbery, raising concerns over police corruption.
- Former MP Prajwal Revanna sentenced to life imprisonment in a sexual assault case.
- Harshavardhini Ranya Rao, stepdaughter of a DGP rank officer, arrested with 14.2 kg of smuggled gold.
Losses in Public Life
The state mourned several notable figures:
- Veteran actor BS Saroja Devi passed away.
- Senior Congress MLA Shamanuru Shivashankarappa also died, closing a long chapter in Karnataka politics.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Karnataka enters 2026 with:
- Unresolved leadership rivalries within the Congress.
- Ambitious new laws awaiting effective implementation.
- Ongoing questions about governance, public trust, and administrative efficiency.
The ability of the ruling party to stabilise internal politics and translate legislative intent into tangible outcomes will be a defining factor for the state in the year ahead.
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