Bengaluru, September 2026 : Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s proposed two-day visit to New Delhi, scheduled for September 7 and 8, has been cancelled, the Chief Minister’s Office said on Sunday. The cancellation comes at a time when the state government is preparing to seek financial assistance from the Centre for drought-affected areas.
B.S. Sridhar, Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Minister, confirmed the development in an official note. “The proposed tour programme of Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to New Delhi on September 7 and 8 has been cancelled,” the note said, without providing any reason for the decision.
Shivakumar’s planned Delhi visit had been closely watched as he was expected to hold discussions on organisational and political matters with the Congress high command. The visit was also considered significant in connection with the Karnataka government’s preparations to submit a memorandum to the Centre seeking drought relief for affected farmers.
Earlier on Sunday, Shivakumar reiterated his government’s commitment to supporting farmers facing the impact of inadequate rainfall. In a post on his official X account, the Chief Minister said he was determined to address the difficulties faced by farmers and shared details of his visit to drought-affected areas of Bagalkot district.
“Determined to wipe away the tears of the farmers. Scenes examining the real situation of the drought conditions in Bagalkot district. Our Congress government will always respond to your hardships, stand behind you,” he said.
The state government has already begun assessing the extent of drought-related crop losses. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara recently said 101 taluks had been declared drought-affected, while the assessment would continue for another 15 days. He indicated that additional taluks could be added to the list depending on the findings of the ongoing assessment.
Parameshwara had earlier said Karnataka planned to submit its drought memorandum to the Centre after completing the assessment of crop losses. He said the memorandum would be prepared based on the damage assessment, after which central teams would be expected to visit Karnataka and conduct their own survey before the release of relief funds.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the state’s immediate priorities included ensuring adequate drinking water, arranging fodder for livestock and creating employment opportunities to prevent distress migration from drought-hit areas. He also said the government would determine the compensation to be provided to farmers based on the extent of crop damage.
Recalling the severe drought Karnataka experienced in 2023, Parameshwara said the state had suffered losses estimated at around Rs 39,000 crore and had submitted a proposal seeking Rs 18,000 crore in central assistance. He noted that the state government had travelled to Delhi and staged a protest over the issue.
According to Parameshwara, following the directions of the Supreme Court, the Centre eventually released Rs 3,500 crore in assistance. He stressed that Karnataka should not face a similar situation this time and indicated that the state would continue pressing for timely central support to address the worsening drought conditions.
