<p>Bengaluru: Karnataka lawmakers will get <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/we-cant-stand-in-queue-mlas-demand-vip-tickets-for-ipl-matches-at-chinnaswamy-speaker-says-give-them-4-each-3945306">two tickets each for the Indian Premier League (IPL) </a>opener between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said.</p><p>Shivakumar said this after holding talks with Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) president Venkatesh Prasad, who also met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah separately on Friday. </p><p>“For the first match, they (lawmakers) will get two tickets each. For the remaining matches, we’ll discuss later,” Shivakumar, the minister in charge of Bengaluru, said. </p><p>On Thursday, Speaker UT Khader directed the government to ensure that lawmakers get four tickets to watch cricket matches at the Chinnaswamy stadium after members across parties slammed the KSCA for ‘disrespecting’ elected representatives. </p>.IPL 2026 | No opening ceremony at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium to honour June 4 stampede victims.<p>“The Speaker had sought four tickets. But all tickets have been sold. There’s no place and there are so many members. Time is less. For now, I’ve asked them (KSCA) to give two tickets per lawmaker and they’ve agreed. I’ve spoken with RCB, too,” Shivakumar said. “Four tickets can't be given. Every MLA, MP and minister used to get one ticket each. Now, they'll get two tickets,” he added.</p><p><strong>‘I stand with Prasad’</strong></p><p>The chief minister’s office released a photo showing Prasad, the KSCA president, standing with folded hands in front of a seated Siddaramaiah. This drew sharp reactions on social media.<br><br>“A national icon like Venkatesh Prasad, a man who brought pride to India, whose spells against Pakistan are etched permanently in our collective memory, is today standing with folded hands before a CM. Why? Not for any wrongdoing. Not for any failure of duty. But simply because he did his job,” Bangalore South BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said.<br><br>“A political class that sees power as entitlement, not responsibility should go. A system where excellence bows, and arrogance sits should go. A new generation of political class is badly needed at all levels,” Surya said. “For whatever it is worth, I stand with Venkatesh Prasad. And I know, millions will.”</p>
<p>Bengaluru: Karnataka lawmakers will get <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/we-cant-stand-in-queue-mlas-demand-vip-tickets-for-ipl-matches-at-chinnaswamy-speaker-says-give-them-4-each-3945306">two tickets each for the Indian Premier League (IPL) </a>opener between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said.</p><p>Shivakumar said this after holding talks with Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) president Venkatesh Prasad, who also met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah separately on Friday. </p><p>“For the first match, they (lawmakers) will get two tickets each. For the remaining matches, we’ll discuss later,” Shivakumar, the minister in charge of Bengaluru, said. </p><p>On Thursday, Speaker UT Khader directed the government to ensure that lawmakers get four tickets to watch cricket matches at the Chinnaswamy stadium after members across parties slammed the KSCA for ‘disrespecting’ elected representatives. </p>.IPL 2026 | No opening ceremony at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium to honour June 4 stampede victims.<p>“The Speaker had sought four tickets. But all tickets have been sold. There’s no place and there are so many members. Time is less. For now, I’ve asked them (KSCA) to give two tickets per lawmaker and they’ve agreed. I’ve spoken with RCB, too,” Shivakumar said. “Four tickets can't be given. Every MLA, MP and minister used to get one ticket each. Now, they'll get two tickets,” he added.</p><p><strong>‘I stand with Prasad’</strong></p><p>The chief minister’s office released a photo showing Prasad, the KSCA president, standing with folded hands in front of a seated Siddaramaiah. This drew sharp reactions on social media.<br><br>“A national icon like Venkatesh Prasad, a man who brought pride to India, whose spells against Pakistan are etched permanently in our collective memory, is today standing with folded hands before a CM. Why? Not for any wrongdoing. Not for any failure of duty. But simply because he did his job,” Bangalore South BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said.<br><br>“A political class that sees power as entitlement, not responsibility should go. A system where excellence bows, and arrogance sits should go. A new generation of political class is badly needed at all levels,” Surya said. “For whatever it is worth, I stand with Venkatesh Prasad. And I know, millions will.”</p>
