Union Minister V. Somanna accused the Congress government in Karnataka of pushing the state towards "goonda raj" following violent incidents in Ballari during Valmiki statue preparations. He condemned the handling of clashes that resulted in one death, alleging a "politics of vendetta" and attempts to shield Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy. Somanna criticized the suspension of the Ballari SP as a scapegoat tactic and highlighted the attack on MLA G. Janardhana Reddy as a sign of law and order collapse.