Bengaluru: Kumaraswamy alleges name change of Ramanagara district is to boost land value

Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has accused Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of renaming Ramanagara district as “Bengaluru South” to increase the market value of his personal landholdings. Speaking at a press conference at his official residence in Delhi, Kumaraswamy questioned the motive behind the name change and termed it a politically motivated move.

“Changing the district’s name is part of a strategy to raise the value of his real estate. But will he remain in power forever?” Kumaraswamy asked. He added that such changes would not be permanent and could be reversed in the future.

Highlighting the region’s contribution to the state’s political history, Kumaraswamy noted, “Ramanagara has given Karnataka three Chief Ministers. If the district had been renamed after a respected figure like Kengal Hanumanthaiah, I would have welcomed it. But perhaps that wouldn’t have increased the value of Shivakumar’s land,” he said sarcastically.

He also claimed that Shivakumar had targeted land he (Kumaraswamy) purchased 40 years ago. “They have even set up an SIT to harass me over that land. I am also fighting this legally,” he added.

Meanwhile, MLA H.D. Revanna, speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha, said the renaming of Ramanagara district was politically motivated. “Let them do what they want for now. When the time comes, Kumaranna (H.D. Kumaraswamy) will bring back the Ramanagara name,” he said. When asked about D.K. Suresh being appointed to the Bamul board, Revanna declined to comment, saying it was not worth worrying about.