Siddaramaiah Draws Flak Over Rs 47 Crore Air Travel Bill; BJP Calls Him ‘Costly Minister’

Last Updated:December 11, 2025, 22:48 IST

The BJP has accused Siddaramaiah of rampant misuse of public funds and abandoning the principles of financial prudence he previously championed

BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya raised questions over Siddaramaiah’s air travel, citing challenges in infrastructure in the state.  (File image: PTI)

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has come under intense scrutiny following revelations that his government has spent over Rs 47 crore on helicopter and special aircraft travel between 2023 and November 2025.

The expenditure, disclosed in the Legislative Council, has triggered a fierce attack from the Opposition, which says the numbers contradict Siddaramaiah’s long–projected image as a “socialist leader".

Despite the mounting criticism, the government insisted that all travel is essential and strictly within protocol for the purpose of efficient governance. However, the rapidly escalating numbers have provided the Opposition with substantial fresh ammunition against the government.

The figures came to light in response to a starred question raised by BJP MLC N. Ravikumar. According to the government’s official reply, the expenditure has escalated significantly across the fiscal years: Rs 12.23 crore in 2023–24, and Rs 21.11 crore in 2024–25, bringing the total to a clarified Rs 47.38 crore as of November 2025.

Opposition Claims Misuse

The BJP has accused Siddaramaiah of rampant misuse of public funds and abandoning the principles of financial prudence he previously championed.

Opposition leaders argue that the Chief Minister has increasingly relied on helicopters even when road travel options have significantly improved or travel times have been substantially reduced. They specifically allege that many air trips were undertaken for routine political events and meetings, terming the lavish spending a “betrayal of socialist values."

BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya raised questions over Siddaramaiah’s air travel, citing challenges in infrastructure in the state.

“In the last 30 months, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s travel by special aircraft and helicopters has cost taxpayers ₹47.38 crore. At a time when Karnataka is still grappling with challenges in infrastructure, rural development, healthcare, and education, such heavy spending on VIP air travel raises serious questions: Is this the best use of public money? Do frequent helicopter trips, including short-distance routes, reflect responsible governance? Shouldn’t fiscal discipline start from the top? With so many urgent public needs waiting for attention in Karnataka, it’s fair for citizens to ask whether the Congress government’s priorities are truly aligned with the people’s," Malviya wrote on X.

BJP MLA Basanagouda R Patil stepped up the attack on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, dubbing him a “Costly Minister" over the rising expenditure on helicopter and chartered aircraft travel.

Patil said that while Karnataka — especially North Karnataka — continues to face regional imbalance, lack of irrigation facilities, unemployment, and poor infrastructure, the Chief Minister is “busy sipping tea in choppers and private aircraft".

“Siddaramaiah has redefined the post of CM as Costly Minister, instead of Chief Minister. He has splurged Rs 47.38 crore travelling in chartered flights and helicopters, calling the travel ‘official’," Patil said.

“This is the same person who delivers lengthy speeches on socialism and austerity and is the only CM to present record budgets in Karnataka. The Chief Minister must explain what the urgency was to hire helicopters and private aircraft in the first place," he added.

Scrutiny On Frequent Mysuru Trips

Adding to the political heat are concerns raised by citizen groups and activists over the Chief Minister’s repeated use of chartered flights to travel to Mysuru, a district he visits frequently. The introduction of the Bengaluru–Mysuru Expressway has reduced road travel time from over three hours to approximately 90 minutes.

Activists are questioning why the Chief Minister has reportedly stopped using road transport—a practice he followed during his previous tenure—in favour of expensive air travel. Official data shows nearly 40 trips to Mysuru in 2.5 years, with over Rs 5 crore spent solely on the Bengaluru–Mysuru air route.

“Why take a chartered flight when the common man reaches Mysuru in 90 minutes?" asked one activist, highlighting the optics of the expense. Additionally, documents reveal that from April 2025 to November 2025 alone, the Chief Minister’s air travel expenditure touched Rs 14.03 crore, with helicopters reportedly used even for short inter-district visits previously undertaken by road.

News politics Siddaramaiah Draws Flak Over Rs 47 Crore Air Travel Bill; BJP Calls Him ‘Costly Minister’

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