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While Siddaramaiah claimed he was not consulted before Shivamogga event, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari wrote 2 letters to Karnataka CM, urging him to join physically or via video
Siddaramaiah and Nitin Gadkari (right). (File)
Ahead of the inauguration of infrastructure projects in Karnataka’s Shivamogga, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari wrote two letters to the chief minister urging him to join physically or through video. Earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah said he was not consulted before finalising the Shivamogga National Highway projects’ dedication and foundation ceremony on July 14, despite his name being included.
Even after Gadkari’s office posted the letters, Siddaramaiah maintained that “neither I nor my office was consulted before your Ministry finalized the programme and publicly circulated the invitation with my name printed on it”.
What Nitin Gadkari’s office said
According to Gadkari’s office, the letters were sent on July 11 and July 12. He also posted them on social media platform X, highlighting the Centre’s commitment to cooperative federalism and coordination with state governments.
“In a major step towards boosting regional connectivity, the inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremony for multiple key infrastructure projects is being held today in Shivamogga, Karnataka. An official invitation was duly extended to the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri @siddaramaiahJi, on 11th July 2025, inviting him to preside over the programme. In light of any possible scheduling challenges, a subsequent letter was sent on 12th July, requesting his virtual presence,” Gadkari posted.
In a major step towards boosting regional connectivity, the inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremony for multiple key infrastructure projects is being held today in Shivamogga, Karnataka.An official invitation was duly extended to the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri… pic.twitter.com/yDPbRdsygd
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) July 14, 2025
In the first letter, Gadkari “informed” the CM about the project and “requested to grace the occasion and preside over the programme”.
In the second letter, it was added that in case the chief minister is unable to attend the event in person, “we would be honoured if you could join us through video conferencing”.
Gadkari on Monday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone and dedicated nine National Highway projects spanning 88 km, with an investment exceeding ₹2000 crore.
Siddaramaiah’s complaint, response to Gadkari’s reply
In his complaint earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah told Gadkari that it has come to his notice that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways along with National Highway Authority of India is organising the ceremony on July 14. “Due to prior commitments in Vijayapura, I have written to Shri @nitin_gadkari requesting the event be rescheduled… and my name has also been printed in the draft invitation card. However, I have not been intimated about this programme in advance, and an inauguration programme of various developmental schemes is already scheduled under my Chairmanship in Indi Taluka, Vijyapura District on the same day,” he wrote on X.
I was not consulted before finalising the Shivamogga National Highway projects’ dedication & foundation ceremony on July 14th, despite my name being included.Due to prior commitments in Vijayapura, I have written to Shri @nitin_gadkari requesting the event be rescheduled. pic.twitter.com/mrHHsVS0ma
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 14, 2025
Siddaramaiah suggested that it would have been more appropriate for MoRTH to have consulted with the State Government before scheduling the State Level programmes. “Therefore, I request you to instruct the department to coordinate with the State Government while organising such programmes. Also, I request you to postpone this programme and provide me with a couple of dates convenient to you, so that I would be able to join you in this significant state level programme,” he added.
Your response on the Shivamogga event is noted. However, I wish to place on record that neither I nor my office was consulted before your Ministry finalized the programme and publicly circulated the invitation with my name printed on it.In fact, the official invitation was… https://t.co/NSVo5hFCd3
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 14, 2025
After Gadkari’s office responded with the details of the letter, Siddaramaiah further wrote on X: “Your response on the Shivamogga event is noted. However, I wish to place on record that neither I nor my office was consulted before your Ministry finalized the programme and publicly circulated the invitation with my name printed on it…”
Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived…Read More
Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived… Read More
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