Amid criticism from the common people, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday announced that legislators will be given a quota of free tickets for cricket matches.
As part of the deal, MLAs will receive three free tickets for Indian Premier League (IPL) matches and two free tickets for international matches. They will also be able to purchase two additional tickets for international matches.
The decision comes after Legislative Assembly Speaker UT Khader recently urged the government to ensure that legislators are allotted four match-day premium tickets, amid displeasure by MLAs — from various quarters — over the ticket distribution process run by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with KSCA officials, representatives of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and DNA Entertainment Networks, Mr. Shivakumar said the issue has now been resolved. “Today we discussed and decided to provide three free tickets for IPL matches and two free tickets for international matches to legislators. Apart from this, legislators will be able to purchase two more tickets for international matches. This concludes the matter,” he said.
It is optional
He added: “If any legislator is not interested, they can inform us in writing and tickets will not be issued. There is no compulsion,” he said.
Reacting to the demands for higher quota, Mr. Shivakumar said, “There are many demands but not all of them can be met. The decision has been taken based on discussions and prevailing circumstances,” he said.
He added that as compared to other states, the allocation of free tickets for members of the public remains limited in Karnataka. “In states like Rajasthan, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Gujarat, around 50-60% tickets are distributed among government officials and other categories. But here in Karnataka, our intervention rate is lower,” he noted.
Increasing the number of seats
The Deputy Chief Minister said the discussions also covered the expansion of cricket infrastructure in the state. “We have explored the possibility of increasing the capacity of the stadium by about 20,000 seats, which will benefit the public,” he said.
He added that discussions have taken place with the Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to identify land for the new stadium. “A proposal has been requested and once submitted, it will be scrutinized at government level before they are approved,” he said.
On the demands for a separate gallery for legislators and ministers, Mr. Shivakumar said the matter would be left for the KSCA to decide.
He further said that the government has already allotted 25 acres of land to KSCA and provided land in Tumakuru and Mysuru. In Bengaluru, Cabinet approval has been given for a stadium project through the Karnataka Housing Board, with a stadium in Suryanagar to benefit various sports.
Published – 30 March 2026 22:13 IST
