Nothing brings Indians together like cricket – even across political boundaries. Karnataka has provided the latest example. Steeped in “VIP” culture.
Lawmakers from both the state’s ruling Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party want free tickets – one MLA set the price at five each – for the opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to be played in Bengaluru.
The issue was raised in the Legislative Council, raised by Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka, who received support from across the board.
Deputy CM DK Shivakumar referred to the legendary Mauryan king as he said he would raise him with the Karnataka State Cricket Association. “I will definitely tell them that this is a request from Samrat Ashok,” he joked in the council.
IPL 2026 begins this Saturday with a match between host team Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Vijayanand Kashapanavar, Congress MLA from Hungund, later explained why the KSCA should give special treatment to MLAs. “They (the cricket federation) are taking all the facilities from the government. They are getting all the security, everything…but they are not respecting the MLAs,” he told the media, according to the report.
He added: “We are VIPs. We cannot stand in line and stand there. We went last time… They are sending us to an exhibition with the public. It will not happen.”
(In case you didn’t know from the context, VIP is an abbreviation for “Very Important Personality,” used in government protocols as well.)
Putting out the demand in numbers, Kashapanavar explained how he supported BJP’s R Ashoka within the Assembly. “We have asked the Speaker to take necessary action and issue at least five tickets to the MLAs,” he said. He also claimed that KSCA was “raising money and having fun.”
Inside the house, R Ashoka also criticized KSCA. “We have given them 16.32 acres of land at a nominal price of around 16.32 acres $1600 per month; But they charge us thousands for match tickets. They have millions of rupees and are plundering us; The government wants to build another stadium for such people. “They need to be taught a lesson,” he said.
Parliament Speaker Ut Khader told the government to hold discussions with the KSCA “with regard to this issue raised by the MLAs”. “They sometimes give only one ticket to MLAs… They have to give at least four tickets to the MLA and the family,” Khader said, reducing the demand to a number less than five.
Thereupon, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said, “I will talk to the KSCA president and settle this matter. I am a member there too.”
Former Team India player Venkatesh Prasad is the current president of KSCA.
