Tejasvi Surya: Drama, Arrested And Released! Why Is Congress Not Supporting Shadow Cash Support? Are Karnataka’s Coffers Empty?

Tejasvi Surya: The President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and the MLA from the Bangalore South constituency, Tejasvi Surya, was detained and then released.

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Arresting me, won’t silence me!

Shameful that the Congress government arrested me for exposing the truth: That this is a ‘Khali Trunk’ Govt. That Karnataka’s finances are broken, and citizens are paying the price through rising Metro fares and soaring costs.

No more excuses.… pic.twitter.com/jDjHhmz0Jf

— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) February 9, 2026

Surya was detained after he entered the Bengaluru Metro Station with an empty trunk as a symbolic protest suggesting that it reflects the “empty trunk of the Karnataka government”.

In a post on X, the RSS swayamsevak said his arrest would never silence him. Surya also accused the Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah of acting against him because he exposed his government’s truth.

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Welcome to Congress-ruled Karnataka. Here you can get arrested for demanding affordable public transport and better infrastructure.

Mr. CM, if fighting for Better Bengaluru is a crime, I am ready to get arrested a 1,000 more times.

Do better, and initiate a new FFC for Namma… pic.twitter.com/N5vpNWMlV0

— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) February 9, 2026

Tejasvi Surya Made Demands

Surya demanded that the Karnataka CM should present a White Paper on Karnataka’s state finances in the upcoming budget. He also urged for restoring financial support to the Karnataka Metro system to bring down the fares.

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Karnataka Govt arrested MP @Tejasvi_Surya for protesting against anti-people metro fare hike. Instead of solving problems, they silence those who speak for citizens. This arrogance won’t last. You can detain a leader, not the people’s voice. We all stand with @Tejasvi_Surya pic.twitter.com/M9TRBXU2CX

— Tajinder Bagga (@TajinderBagga) February 9, 2026

Shadow Cash Support

Surya cited inability of the Karnataka government to sustain the “Shadow Cash Support (SCS)” support to the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). SCS is a financial buffer that has been used by previous state governments to cover operational losses, repayments and interest-free loans of BMRCL. It was alleged by Surya that the Siddaramaiah government withdrew this financial cushion, triggering metro fare hikes and burdening commuters.

Are Karnataka’s Coffers Empty?

Surya references the Karnataka CM’s own Fare Fixation Committee testimony on financial fragility, linking it to unaffordable living and daily price surges. It was argued by critics like Surya that the populist schemes of the Congress government without revenue backing have drained the state’s resources, forcing cuts like shadow cash support.

Political Firestorm And Voter Pulse

The street protests of Tejasvi Surya have highlighted commuter support, amplifying the narrative of BJP of Congress incompetence. Congress politicians have referred to the antics of Surya as political posturing ahead of the upcoming state budget. The statements of Surya could sway urban voters of the state tired of fare gains with Greater Bengaluru Authority elections looming.