Karnataka govt allows three IPL tickets per MLA after high-level meeting

Bengaluru : In a significant development following growing demands from legislators, the Karnataka government has revised its decision on IPL ticket distribution. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar held a crucial meeting in Bengaluru with representatives of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, Royal Challengers Bengaluru management, and other stakeholders to address the issue of ticket allocation for MLAs.

The meeting, held at Shivakumar’s residence in Sadashivanagar, brought together KSCA President Venkatesh Prasad and senior officials from RCB. Discussions primarily focused on ticket allocation for IPL matches held at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and related stadium infrastructure concerns.

Initially, the government had considered allocating two complimentary tickets (1+1) to each MLA. However, after detailed deliberations, the decision was revised to increase the allocation to three tickets per MLA for each IPL match held in Bengaluru. For international matches hosted at the stadium, the allocation will be two tickets per MLA.

This decision marks a notable shift from the earlier proposal and is expected to address the growing pressure from legislators who had raised the issue in the Assembly. The revised arrangement ensures that each MLA receives a total of three tickets per IPL match, with provisions for additional requests to be handled separately.

Addressing the media after the meeting, D K Shivakumar clarified that he had already discussed the matter with the Speaker of the Assembly. He stated that the final decision allows for three tickets per MLA for IPL matches in Bengaluru, while two tickets will be provided for international matches.

He further added that if additional tickets are required, MLAs would need to make separate requests or purchase them through official channels. The Deputy Chief Minister emphasized that the arrangement is designed to ensure transparency and fairness in ticket distribution.

The meeting also touched upon the issue of stadium expansion. Discussions were held regarding increasing seating capacity at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. KSCA officials indicated that they are considering expansion plans and would submit a detailed report to the government for further action.

The event also had a lighter moment, as representatives from RCB presented D K Shivakumar with a team jersey. The Deputy Chief Minister sported the jersey and posed for photographs, highlighting the collaborative spirit between the government and the cricketing fraternity.

The decision is expected to streamline ticket distribution and reduce controversies surrounding IPL ticket allotments, while also paving the way for future discussions on sports infrastructure in the state.