Karnataka legislators have drawn flak from the general public for demanding free tickets to matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, with many pointing out the “entitlement” behind such demands, as common citizens struggle to secure tickets even if they are ready to pay hefty sums.
Most members of the public who spoke to The Hindu said the most absurd aspect is that MLAs, who own luxury cars and can afford foreign trips at will, are demanding “free tickets” and are unwilling to pay.
According to sources across multiple departments, the usual practice is as follows: 85% of the total tickets are allotted to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), while 15% remain with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). From its share, the KSCA distributes tickets to around 400 affiliated cricket clubs. In addition, it is common practice to provide tickets to the officials of various departments, such as the police, fire services, and civic bodies in similar proportions.
Requesting anonymity, a source familiar with the matter explained that, historically, tickets were sent to MLAs through a single common channel each year, purely as a gesture of “goodwill.” What had long been a goodwill gesture is now set to become a demand-supply arrangement, with the KSCA and RCB agreeing to provide three tickets per legislator free of cost.
