A major political row has erupted in Karnataka after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar chose to receive Congress MP Rahul Gandhi at the Mysuru airport instead of personally welcoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Bengaluru. Chancellor Merz, who arrived on Tuesday for a strategically significant visit, was instead received by Industries Minister MB Patil. The opposition BJP, led by R. Ashoka, has accused the Congress leadership of “high-command pleasing” and sacrificing the state’s global standing and investment potential for political loyalty.
The Protocol Conflict
The controversy centers on the overlapping arrivals of a world leader and a senior Congress party leader:
| Dignitary | Arrival Location | Received By | Context |
| Friedrich Merz (German Chancellor) | Bengaluru (KIA) | Minister MB Patil & Senior Officials | Official diplomatic and economic visit to tech hubs. |
| Rahul Gandhi (Congress MP) | Mysuru Airport | CM Siddaramaiah & Dy CM DK Shivakumar | Transit stop on his way to Ooty. |
BJP’s Allegations: “Misplaced Priorities”
Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka took to social media (X) to criticize the state government’s decision:
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Strategic Neglect: Ashoka argued that any responsible CM would have personally greeted the head of one of the world’s largest economies to secure investments and jobs.
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Loyalty over Development: He alleged that “political loyalty” took precedence over Karnataka’s interests, describing the CM and Dy CM’s absence as a “deep disregard” for the state’s global image.
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Political Sarcasm: Ashoka noted that the Congress leaders were in Mysuru for a leader who was “merely transiting,” while ignoring a moment of “immense diplomatic significance.”
Chancellor Merz’s Bengaluru Itinerary
Despite the protocol row, the German delegation proceeded with a high-tech focused agenda:
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Bosch Campus (Adugodi): A visit to the German engineering giant’s major hub in Bengaluru.
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IISc (Centre for Nano Science and Engineering): Interaction with India’s premier research scientists to discuss deep-tech collaboration.
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Economic Focus: The visit was aimed at strengthening the Indo-German partnership in technology, energy transition, and manufacturing.
Political Subtext: The “CM Post” Tussle
The BJP also highlighted that the incident occurs amidst internal friction within the Karnataka Congress, where the “Siddaramaiah camp” and “Shivakumar camp” are reportedly competing for influence. The decision to appear together in Mysuru to receive Rahul Gandhi is seen by analysts as an attempt to project unity before the party high command, even at the cost of official state protocol for a visiting head of government.
