Opposition begins overnight dharna in Vidhana Soudha demanding Excise Minister’s resignation

BJP and JD(S) MLAs staged a sleep-in protest inside the Vidhana Soudha demanding the resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur, who is facing allegations of corruption in his department. Leader of Opposition R. Ashok alleged that the corruption could be worth ₹6,000 crore and presented an audio recording as evidence. The government refuted these claims, stating there was no need for the minister's resignation based on mere allegations. Thimmapur denied all accusations, claiming he had brought in reforms to increase transparency and that some officials were misusing his name.