Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar made an unusual and personal comment about legislators while speaking to the legislators in the state Assembly, saying that some MLAs who came to Bengaluru from various parts of the state and settled in the city eventually married twice (he said). His remarks generated some curiosity and a humorous response from BJP legislator B.P. Harish.
Shivakumar made the remarks during a discussion about the drought situation in Karnataka. He then moved briefly from the subject of discussion to Bengaluru's attraction for people who come to the city for education, employment, and politics.
In Bengaluru, once people come to Bengaluru, a lot of them do not go back to their hometowns, Shivakumar said. He said most legislators have homes in Bengaluru and said that the MLAs that came from different districts had also entered into second marriages.
The Chief Minister went on to say he had a list of such legislators. He claimed that he had information about several MLAs from districts like Dharwad, Karwar, and Dakshina Kannada, among others.
Shivakumar did not reveal the names of the legislators he was talking about, though. He said he did not want to tell their personal histories at that moment, effectively ending the peculiar piece of his comments.
'Nobody leaves Bengaluru after coming here'
Shivakumar’s larger point was about Bengaluru’s ability to attract people from all over Karnataka. He said people who come to the city for education, employment, or political reasons often end up making Bengaluru their permanent home.
The Chief Minister also spoke of the city’s climate and Cauvery water and why people are reluctant to leave after settling in Bengaluru.
He recalled his own experience, saying he had come to Bengaluru for education but eventually could not leave the city. He noted that legislators who came to Bengaluru due to politics also remain connected to the city.
Bengaluru has long attracted people from different parts of Karnataka because of its educational institutions, employment opportunities, technology sector, and expanding urban economy. The city has also become a key political and administrative centre for the state.
BJP MLA B.P. Harish Takes a Dig
Shivakumar’s comments received a witty response from BJP member B.P. Harish.
Harish was said to have commented on Shivakumar's description of himself as a farmer, entrepreneur, and politician and questioned how the Chief Minister had such detailed information about the personal lives of legislators.
He asked Shivakumar when he had done the “study” that allowed him to speak so confidently about MLAs allegedly having two marriages.
The exchange made for a lighter moment in what was otherwise a serious Assembly discussion on Karnataka’s drought situation.
Shivakumar said the matter could be discussed personally, ending the conversation without mentioning the legislators he claimed were named in his speech.
Remarks Made During Drought Discussion
Shivakumar said the comments were made during a time when Karnataka’s legislature has been heavily focused on the state’s worsening drought situation. As rainfall has been a big issue for agriculture, water availability, and other sectors, the state government has become increasingly reliant on the Centre’s financial assistance.
Shivakumar recently asked the Centre to release 50 per cent of Rs 3,705.30 crore assistance sought under Karnataka’s Kharif 2026 drought memorandum as interim relief. The government has also said that the number of drought-affected taluks might increase as the southwest monsoon reaches its final phase.
In this context, the Chief Minister’s comments on Bengaluru and legislators’ personal lives stood out during the Assembly proceedings.
Personal Claim Remains Undisclosed
Shivakumar mentioned that he had a list of legislators who he claimed had married twice but didn’t make the names public during the discussion. So the comment of the Chief Minister must be seen as comments of the Chief Minister rather than as information on the personal lives of legislators.
But the exchange quickly became a talking point because of the unusual nature of the subject and the humorous response from the Opposition benches.
For now, the identities of the legislators Shivakumar referred to remain secret, and so his “list” will be treated as a curious reference to the Assembly proceedings rather than a list of politicians and their marital status and their past marriages.
