Police take BJP leaders into custody as they try to lay siege to Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru

BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra was among a host of BJP leaders and party workers taken into custody by the police on August 24, 2026.

| Photo Credit: Special arrangement

Several BJP leaders, including leaders of the Opposition in both the Houses of the State legislature, were taken into custody by the police on Monday (August 24, 2026) when they tried to lay a siege to Vidhana Soudha, demanding the resignation of Minister B. Nagendra.BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra, former Deputy Chief Minister Dr. C.N. Ashwath Narayan, Opposition Chief Whip in Council Ravikumar, MLC C.T. Ravi and former minister B. Sriramulu besides a host of party workers were among those taken into custody by the police.The BJP members, who have been staging a protest both inside and outside the Legislature demanding resignation of Mr. Nagendra in the wake of him being chargesheeted in the case of embezzlement of funds meant for welfare of ST communities, stepped up their campaign on August 24. They gathered at the Freedom Park in Bengaluru and later marched towards Vidhana Soudha to lay siege.They indulged in slogan shouting and accused the Congress government of cheating Dalits by shielding Nagendra.There was a minor scuffle when the police tried to stop the protesters from marching forward in view of prohibitory orders in force due to the ongoing monsoon session of the state legislature.Finally, the police took the leaders and a large number of protesting members into custody to foil their bid to lay siege to Vidhana Soudha. The leaders were released later.More than 500 police personnel, along with KSRP platoons, had been deployed around the legislature complex and security had been tightened in and around Vidhana Soudha to prevent protesters from barging into its premises.Before being taken into custody, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok alleged that the situation resembled the Emergency days when rights of people had been curtailed. He declared that the Opposition parties would not stop their protest till Mr. Nagendra quits.Metro entrances blockedAmid the protest, two entrances at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar metro station (Vidhana Soudha) were temporarily closed from 10.17 a.m. following the advice from local authorities, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) said.Entrances E and F, including the lift entrance, have been closed temporarily. BMRCL said further updates would follow.However, all other entrances at the station remain open for passenger entry and exit. The Metro operator has requested passengers to cooperate with authorities and follow instructions at the station. Published - August 24, 2026 12:45 pm IST