Bengaluru: A political controversy has erupted in Karnataka after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar for their decision to personally welcome Congress MP Rahul Gandhi at the Mysuru airport, while deputing a minister to receive German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. The BJP accused the ruling Congress of prioritising “high-command pleasing” over the state’s development, global standing and economic interests.
The issue surfaced following the German Chancellor’s official visit to Bengaluru on Tuesday, a visit that the BJP described as being of immense diplomatic, economic and strategic importance to Karnataka. Chancellor Merz was received at the airport by Minister for Large and Medium Industries MB Patil and senior state officials, instead of the Chief Minister or Deputy Chief Minister.
BJP alleges misplaced priorities
Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly and senior BJP leader R Ashoka strongly criticised the move, taking to social media platform X to express his disapproval. Ashoka said the actions of Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar reflected misplaced priorities at a time when Karnataka had an opportunity to showcase itself as a global investment destination.
“Today, the German Federal Chancellor visited Karnataka — a moment of immense diplomatic, economic and strategic significance for our state. Any other responsible Chief Minister would have personally ensured that such a visit was accorded the seriousness it deserved — as an opportunity for investment, industry, employment and long-term growth for Karnataka,” Ashoka wrote.
He further remarked that while the head of government of one of the world’s largest economies landed in Bengaluru, the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister chose to be in Mysuru to receive Rahul Gandhi, who was only transiting through Karnataka en route to Ooty in Tamil Nadu.
“But look at the situation today. While the German Chancellor landed in Bengaluru, Chief Minister @siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister @DKShivakumar chose to be in Mysuru to receive @RahulGandhi, who was merely transiting to Ooty,” Ashoka said, adding a sharp political jab at the Congress leadership.
‘High-command pleasing over state interest’
The BJP alleged that the Congress leadership’s decision not to personally welcome Chancellor Merz reflected a “deep disregard” for Karnataka’s interests on the global stage. Ashoka accused the ruling party of putting political loyalty ahead of governance and development.
“Political loyalty and ‘high-command pleasing’ took priority over Karnataka’s global standing,” he alleged. According to the BJP, such gestures send the wrong message to international leaders, investors and diplomatic partners about the seriousness with which the state views global engagement.
Other BJP leaders echoed similar sentiments, stating that Karnataka, being one of India’s leading industrial and technology hubs, should have accorded the highest protocol to a visiting foreign head of government. They argued that personal presence of the Chief Minister or Deputy Chief Minister could have reinforced Karnataka’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships.
Congress faces charge of double standards
The BJP also accused the Congress of hypocrisy, pointing out that the party had earlier protested when Rahul Gandhi was not invited to an official banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu in honour of Russian President Vladimir Putin last month.
“At that time, Congress leaders made it an issue of protocol and respect. Now, when a foreign head of government visits Karnataka, they themselves ignore protocol,” a BJP leader said, adding that the contrast exposed the Congress’ double standards.
German Chancellor’s Bengaluru visit
During his brief visit to Bengaluru, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, accompanied by a high-level delegation, visited key technology and research institutions in the city. The delegation toured the Bosch campus at Adugodi, highlighting Germany’s strong industrial presence in Karnataka, and later visited the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
Officials said the visit focused on strengthening collaboration in advanced manufacturing, technology, research and innovation. Karnataka has long been a major destination for German investments, with several German companies operating in sectors such as automotive, engineering, electronics and renewable energy.
After completing the engagements, Chancellor Merz and his delegation departed Bengaluru the same evening.
Congress yet to respond in detail
As of now, there has been no detailed response from the Chief Minister’s Office or the Deputy Chief Minister addressing the BJP’s allegations. Congress leaders, however, have maintained in the past that protocol decisions are taken based on administrative and scheduling considerations, and that deputing senior ministers to receive dignitaries is a standard practice.
Minister MB Patil, who received the German Chancellor, is a senior cabinet member handling the key industries portfolio, and officials indicated that his presence was intended to ensure focused discussions on investment and industrial cooperation.
Conclusion
The controversy underscores the continuing political tension between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP in Karnataka, particularly amid internal power dynamics within the Congress leadership. While the BJP has framed the issue as one of governance priorities and global perception, the Congress is yet to formally clarify its stand. As Karnataka positions itself as a global investment and innovation hub, the debate highlights how protocol, symbolism and political optics continue to play a significant role in the state’s political discourse.