The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has refuted allegations from the Congress-led Karnataka government about the Centre neglecting the state. According to the BJP, Karnataka is receiving 76% more financial assistance under the current NDA government compared to the previous UPA era. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented data to debunk Karnataka government’s claims of fund deprivation.
Sitharaman’s detailed response, supported by concrete figures, aims to clarify the situation and showcase the NDA government’s proactive stance in aiding states, even those governed by opposition parties. She emphasized that tax devolution to Karnataka has surged to nearly Rs 4 lakh crore between 2014 and 2026, significantly higher than the Rs 82,000 crore received during the UPA government’s tenure before 2014.
The Union Minister highlighted that grants-in-aid to Karnataka during 2014–2026 amounted to around Rs 2.71 lakh crore. Additionally, Karnataka has benefited from over Rs 18,000 crore through the Centre’s interest-free loan scheme spanning 50 years. BJP sources emphasized the substantial support provided to Karnataka’s development through increased tax devolution, grants, and significant infrastructure investments.
The BJP’s strong rebuttal comes amidst ongoing political tensions between the Congress government in Karnataka and the Central government. The BJP has accused the state government of spreading misinformation repeatedly to divert attention from its governance challenges.
