The Karnataka state government said in a notification that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah‘s political secretary K. Govindaraju has been relieved from his post with immediate effect. The decision has been taken in connection with the Bengaluru stadium stampede, which claimed 11 lives and left several injured.
“The appointment of K Govindaraj as Political Secretary to the Chief Minister is hereby revoked with immediate effect. Accordingly, K Govindaraj is hereby relieved from the post of Political Secretary to the Chief Minister with immediate effect,” an official notification said.
K. Govindaraj relieved from the post of Political Secretary to the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with immediate effect, as per a state government notification.
— ANI (@ANI) June 6, 2025
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for politicising the recent stampede at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which claimed 11 lives. His remarks came after the BJP accused the Congress-led state government of making the police a “scapegoat” in the incident.
CM Siddaramaiah said the state government has already taken action against officials who were found to be “visibly responsible” and “negligent in their duty.”
#WATCH | Bengaluru: On allegations made by JDS MP HD Kumaraswamy, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah says, “BJP and JDS leaders only speak lies.” pic.twitter.com/ojIyyYt9kx
— ANI (@ANI) June 6, 2025
“They are doing it for politics. I don’t do politics. We have taken action against those who were visibly responsible and found to be negligent in their duty,” the Chief Minister said here.
Meanwhile, Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra accused the state government of only acting when pressure was put on them.
“The state government has acted only after coming under pressure… Action has been taken against RCB and the Karnataka Cricket Association. Yesterday, the Chief Minister suddenly suspended senior police officers, including the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, and five other officials,” Vijayendra said.
Blaming senior state cabinet members, including CM Siddaramaiah, Dy CM Shivakumar, and state home minister G Parameshwara for the stampede, he demanded an investigation into their actions.
“The real accused is none other than Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Accused no. 2 is Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Accused no. 3 is Home Minister G. Parameshwara. They must truly be subjected to investigation,” the state BJP president said.