BENGALURU, Sept. 29 -- Karnataka chief minister DK Shivakumar on Monday challenged the BJP to join an all-party delegation to Delhi seeking drought relief from the Centre, saying its refusal would expose a gap between its demands for farmer compensation and its willingness to press the Union government for funds.

Shivakumar said the state government would proceed with its efforts even if opposition parties stayed away. "If the opposition parties do not join the all-party delegation, the government will not neglect the interests of farmers. We will do whatever is necessary to protect the interests of farmers in the state," he told reporters near his Sadashivanagar residence in Bengaluru before leaving for New Delhi.

The BJP has said it w...