On 29th March 2026, the legislatures in the Karnataka assembly demanded free tickets for the IPL matches. R. Ashoka said that the MLAs have a right as the government has leased the land to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) at a monthly rent of Rs 1600. It was a brazen admission that the legislators should get the freebies in lieu of such largesse provided to private and quasi-private entities. The rent is miniscule. Neither the legislators nor the KSCA are impoverished either to buy the tickets or pay the rent at the market price. It was amusing if not farcical to watch them squabble over free tickets.
MLA Kashappannavar demanded separate VIP enclosure for ‘people’s representatives’ as they do not feel comfortable mixing with common people.
Less than a year back on 4th June 2025, 11 fans of RCB who had come to Chinnaswamy stadium died in the stampede with countless others injured. The celebrations were planned without proper planning and a senior Police Officer had warned the state government that ensuing crowd would be too large to control. The government blamed RCB for unilaterally announcing the celebrations; 3 IPS officers and two police personnel were sacked which was akin to closing the stable door after the horse being bolted. Polce filed the FIR against RCB , KSCA and DNA, the event management company. The chargesheet is still pending with no closure in sight. The new season has started. There are 11 empty seats with a memorial plaque in one corner of the stadium. A key franchisee official in connection with the stampede was in the diamond box just above the memorial during the opening match. CM’s aide who was sacked last year for unmanageable celebrations was also seen in the AC lounge.
A few days after the tragedy, the legislators stood in the assembly and blamed each other. Now the same leaders have buried their differences and are united in demanding for the Free passes. From 26th to 29th March the demand went on rising from 1 ticket per MLA to 4 tickets. On the contrary over the last one year the case has hardly moved from FIR to conviction.
RCB is currently valued at $1.78 Billion. During the match, tickets are sold in black at astronomical rates. Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd, (BMRCL) Namma metro was also quite generous to the spectators of IPL. The match ticket holders are allowed to travel free on Namma Metro on all the IPL match days to and from the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The net loss of Bangalore Metro in FY 25 was Rs 624 Crores which widened from Rs 308 crores the previous year. Last year Namma Metro increased the fare by as much as 71% on select routes to cover in part the operational losses. It has also asked the government to a hike the tariff by at least 5% every year.
This article is not a comment on the legislators or the Metro officials. Human bias is a lack of objectivity, a prejudicial inclination, or a systematic error in thinking.
Judging others without self-reflection is primarily driven by projection, where individuals attribute their own disowned flaws or insecurities to others. This behaviour acts as a defence mechanism to avoid self-examination, often resulting in fundamental attribution error (judging others’ character rather than situation) and superiority bias.
Reminds of Jesus when he says “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1)
Rajan Parulekar 