Tuglaq tegime: BJP to hold protests in Karnataka today over unprecedented bus fare hike

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Nov 5, 2026: Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka has launched a sharp attack on the Congress government over the bus fare hike, alleging that the increase was unprecedented and could have been avoided if the government had cleared the outstanding dues of Rs 5,650 crore owed to transport corporations.

Ashoka announced that the BJP would stage statewide protests against the fare hike on Thursday. He said the transport corporations had raised loans against a guarantee of Rs 2,000 crore, while provident fund arrears stood at Rs 2,901.53 crore and fuel dues at Rs 827.37 crore.

Calling upon the public to participate in protests at all district headquarters and in Bengaluru, Ashoka alleged that the Congress government was worse than the ’Tughlaq regime’.

"The Congress is burdening people for its own mistakes. The bus fare hike is around 40 per cent, which is unprecedented and arbitrary. Deepavali is a festival of lights, but this government has pushed the lives of common people into darkness," he said.

Referring to Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh’s remarks about the department’s financial difficulties, Ashoka recalled his tenure as Transport Minister, claiming that the transport corporations had remained profitable for five years, except during the Covid period.

"During my tenure, we purchased 1,110 acres of land using our own funds and created a land bank. Today, that land is worth Rs 10,000 crore. I also established TTMCs, which generated Rs 40-50 crore annually through rentals alone," he said.

Meanwhile, the JD(S) also criticised the Congress government over repeated price hikes and its decision to increase bus fares during the festive season.

According to the party, BMTC fares have been increased by Rs 4 to Rs 12, while fares on KSRTC ordinary and express services have gone up by Rs 9 and Rs 18, respectively.

In a social media post, the JD(S) accused the government of penalising the poor and middle-class sections of society and said voters would teach the Congress a lesson in the 2028 Assembly elections.