Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar claimed there was no pressure on him either to go for Cabinet expansion or to include particular legislators in the Ministry.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday (July 10, 2026) said some of the footpath vendors in Bengaluru “may have to face tough consequences" amid the ongoing encroachment removal drive in the capital city.The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) rolled out its ambitious ‘Safe Footpath’ campaign on July 1, with enforcement drives to clear footpaths that had been taken over by shop extensions, pushcarts, temporary structures and other obstructions. Displaced vendors will be provided with alternative spaces, the CM said, adding that the campaing will continue in a “people-friendly” manner.Speaking to reporters at the Belagavi airport, Mr. Shivakumar said: “The encroachment removal from footpaths in Bengaluru is ongoing. It will continue. We have issued clear directions from the Supreme Court about it. However, we will conduct it in a people-friendly manner. We will provide alternative spaces to displaced vendors. However, some vendors may have to face tough consequences.”Further, the CM said that it is “not right to assume that the decision to remove encroachments was taken by Bengaluru Gevelopment Minister Krishna Byre Gowda alone.”Referring to an all-party meeting of legislators in Bengaluru when he was handling the same portfolio, Mr. Shivakumar said, “It was decided in that meeting that all vendors should be evicted. We conducted a survey and around 60,000 footpath vendors. We promised to give them identity cards. Some of them have already begun registering with us.”“We will give them alternative places to sell their ware. However, they can not claim ownership of those spaces. They should come to the place in the morning, do their business and go home with their pushcarts,’’ he added.CM Shivakumar also said that he had decided to not to interfere with the process of conducting local body elections including those of the Greater Bengaluru Authority. “Government officers of various departments and the Sate Election Commission will make the preparations. As a party, we will start our own preparations to face the elections politically,’’ he said.Further, Mr. Shivakumar claimed there was no pressure on him either to go for Cabinet expansion or to include particular legislators in the Ministry. “We will take the next step after consulting the Congress High Command,” he told reporters.On permission for RSS route marchMr. Shivakumar also said he would look into the issue of RSS needing the State government’s permission for a route march in Belagavi. “I have only seen media reports. I will seek a report about it,” he said. This was in response to Home Minister Priyank Kharge’s statement that RSS or any other organisation did not need permissions to hold meetings, but would need to seek permission for a route march.“The rules are the same for all. We can not differentiate between organisations. If there are legal provision that permit such processions, they will be allowed. Otherwise, no,” he added. Published - July 10, 2026 01:17 pm IST
