Taking exception to the Cabinet led by Karnataka’s Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar not having any woman member, opposition BJP MLAs accused the government of being ‘anti-women’.

On August 14, BJP legislators staged a dharna in front of the Bhuvaneshwari statue near Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru to register their protest against various issues, including women not being accommodated.

BJP State unit president B. Y. Vijayendra alleged that the Congress government had behaved in an insensitive manner by forming the ministry without women members though it had been widely publicised that a woman MLC’s name had been cleared by the party high command for inclusion.

“Karnataka is a land of social reformers Basavanna and Akka Mahadevi who strived for women’s empowerment centuries ago. But it is very sad that, for the first time, the legislature session is being held without a woman minister,” he remarked.

BJP MLA and former minister Shashikala Jolle accused the Congress of using women only to further its political interests. “The Congress wants votes of women, but it is not ready to provide representation to women in the ministry,” she said.

Leaders of Opposition R. Ashok and Chalawadi Narayanswamy were among those who participated in the protest.

Published - August 14, 2026 04:07 pm IST