Parameshwara Dismisses BJP Allegations Over Sports Complex Naming
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has firmly rejected allegations from BJP workers that the Mahatma Gandhi District Stadium in Tumakuru is being renamed after him. The controversy centers on an indoor sports complex located beside the stadium, which now carries Parameshwara's name.
BJP Protest and Police Action
On Monday evening, BJP workers led by party MLAs B Suresh Gowda and G B Jyoti Ganesh staged a protest in front of the stadium. They contended that the stadium itself was being renamed, a claim that sparked immediate backlash. Police detained approximately thirty protesters as they attempted to breach security barricades during the demonstration.
Gowda expressed strong objections to the naming decision. He stated, "The Mahatma Gandhi Stadium is a fifty-year-old ground in Tumakuru. Suddenly, they have put Parameshwara's name in the stadium, which is very controversial. We do not know how the Government has taken this decision." He added that Parameshwara, whom he described as humble and non-controversial, might not have been involved in the decision, suggesting instead that his supporters made the move.
Parameshwara's Response
Parameshwara responded to the allegations on Tuesday, calling the facility named after him "just a shed." He questioned the logic behind the BJP's claims, asking, "Who removes the name of Mahatma Gandhi? If someone claims that the Mahatma Gandhi stadium is being renamed, they should be mad."
The Home Minister explained that sportspersons from Tumakuru had requested in September 2025 that the indoor sports facility be named after him. He emphasized that the request was submitted without his knowledge. The proposal cited his contributions, including the upcoming international cricket stadium at Tumakuru, the development of the Mahatma Gandhi district stadium, and the tennis courts.
Parameshwara dismissed the BJP's objections as jealousy. He remarked, "If they are jealous that people are naming a shed near the stadium after me, what can I do?"
Timing and Political Context
This row emerges just days before a state-level sports meet scheduled to be held in Tumakuru from January 16 to 22. Tumakuru falls within Parameshwara's Koratagere Assembly constituency, adding a local political dimension to the controversy. The timing highlights the ongoing tensions between political parties in Karnataka over symbolic gestures and naming rights.
The incident underscores the broader dynamics of Karnataka politics, where such disputes often reflect deeper rivalries. Parameshwara's dismissal of the allegations as baseless aims to downplay the significance of the naming, while the BJP's protest seeks to frame it as an attempt to erase Gandhi's legacy.
