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Adani Meets DK Shivakumar, BJP Questions Congress Over Rs 22,267 Crore Tunnel Project
Bengaluru: A political storm has erupted in Karnataka after Gautam Adani met Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in this state capital. The BJP has questioned Congress over the meeting, linking it with the Rs 22,267 crore Bengaluru tunnel road project, while the state government has defended the interaction as a routine courtesy visit and maintained that the tender process followed all rules.
A political controversy has erupted in Karnataka after industrialist Gautam Adani met Chief Minister DK Shivakumar at his Bengaluru residence, with the BJP questioning the Congress government’s stand over the Adani Group’s involvement in a major infrastructure project.
The meeting, described as a courtesy interaction by the Chief Minister, has become a political flashpoint after Adani Enterprises emerged as the lowest bidder for Bengaluru’s proposed twin tunnel road project worth around Rs 22,267 crore.
The BJP has accused Congress of maintaining different positions on Adani at the state and national levels, while the ruling party has defended the meeting and the tender process. The controversy has once again brought the debate over corporate-government relations, infrastructure contracts, transparency and political accountability into focus in Karnataka.
The saffron party has launched an attack on the Congress government in Karnataka following Gautam Adani’s meeting with DK Shivakumar. BJP leaders have questioned how Congress can criticise the Adani Group nationally while allowing the same business group to participate in major infrastructure projects in a state ruled by the grand old party.
The opposition party in the state has highlighted Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s repeated allegations against the Adani Group and his criticism of the Union government over its alleged proximity to large corporate houses. BJP has accused Congress of following a double-standard approach, claiming that the party’s political criticism of Adani does not match its actions in Karnataka.
The political dispute has intensified due to the Bengaluru twin tunnel road project, which is planned to improve traffic movement in the rapidly growing city. Adani Enterprises emerged as the lowest bidder for two packages of the 17.1-kilometre tunnel project with a bid of approximately Rs 22,267 crore.
The project has already attracted public attention due to concerns over its high cost, construction planning, environmental impact and possible effects on Bengaluru’s green areas. Questions have also been raised regarding the proposed alignment of the tunnel road and its impact on locations such as the historic Lalbagh Botanical Garden.
The saffron party has linked Gautam Adani’s meeting with Chief Minister Shivakumar to the timing of the project bid, while the Karnataka government has rejected any allegations of favouritism.
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has maintained that Gautam Adani’s visit was a courtesy call after he assumed office. The Karnataka government has stated that the interaction should not be viewed from a political perspective and that industrial leaders often meet state governments regarding investment, business and infrastructure matters.
Officials have maintained that the tunnel road tender process was conducted through established rules, technical evaluation and administrative procedures. The government has denied any interference in the bidding process and asserted that decisions related to infrastructure contracts were taken according to legal and regulatory frameworks.
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge defended the Chief Minister’s meeting with Gautam Adani and said the government’s relationship with the company is limited to project-related matters.
He maintained that for the Karnataka government, Adani Group is participating as a contractor and bidder in infrastructure projects and that the administration cannot intervene in a legally conducted tender process.
The Minister also emphasised that the Bengaluru tunnel project is important for improving urban mobility and addressing traffic challenges in the city. However, he reiterated that Congress’ political criticism of the Adani Group at the national level remains unchanged.
BJP has argued that Congress cannot oppose Adani in national politics while engaging with the industrial group for major projects in states where it is in power. The controversy has provided the opposition party in the state with an opportunity to target Congress on the issue of corporate relations and governance.
On the other hand, the grand old party has maintained that there is a difference between political criticism and government responsibility, stating that infrastructure development requires engagement with eligible companies through transparent procedures. The party has argued that government decisions must be based on law, rules and public interest rather than political considerations.
The absence of an immediate official announcement or detailed communication regarding Gautam Adani’s meeting with DK Shivakumar also became a talking point. The Chief Minister’s Office regularly shares updates about meetings with prominent personalities, but the limited public information about this interaction led to further political discussion. Opposition leaders questioned the lack of transparency, while the government maintained that the meeting was a routine courtesy interaction.
The controversy reflects a larger national debate over the role of private companies in government projects and the need for transparency in large infrastructure contracts. State governments often engage with major business groups for investment, economic growth and development projects. However, opposition parties frequently raise concerns over accountability, competitive bidding and public interest.
The Karnataka tunnel road project has now become a major political issue, with both BJP and Congress using the controversy to strengthen their positions before the public. As the political debate intensifies, the Rs 22,267 crore Bengaluru tunnel project is set to remain a major issue in Karnataka politics, keeping the BJP-Congress confrontation alive in the coming days.
