Cricket has a unique ability to unite Indians across political boundaries, as seen in Karnataka where legislators from both ruling Congress and opposition BJP demanded free tickets for the IPL inaugural match in Bengaluru. The issue was raised in the legislative assembly, with Deputy CM DK Shivakumar jokingly referring to a legendary Mauryan king to emphasize the request. Congress MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar argued that MLAs deserve special treatment from the Karnataka State Cricket Association due to the facilities provided by the government. BJP’s R Ashoka criticized the KSCA for charging high prices for match tickets despite receiving land at a nominal price. Speaker UT Khader suggested discussions between the government and KSCA to address the MLA’s concerns. Deputy CM Shivakumar, also a member of KSCA, promised to resolve the issue. The demand for free tickets for MLAs highlights the influence of cricket and the sense of entitlement among VIPs in the state. Former Team India pacer Venkatesh Prasad currently serves as the president of KSCA.
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