Karnataka’s Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashoka, alleged on Saturday that a new clash has erupted between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. The discord stems from recent statements made by Congress leaders regarding leadership changes within the state. Ashoka criticized the focus shifting from development to internal power struggles within the Congress party in Karnataka. He emphasized the need for clarity on leadership, pointing out the conflicting views within the party hierarchy.
The ongoing debate over Congress leadership in Karnataka has intensified, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, asserting that the demand for a leadership change has not been sanctioned by the party’s high command. Ashoka highlighted the upcoming discussions on the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) election, indicating a broader engagement with MLAs and district office bearers. Additionally, he raised concerns about the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in local body polls, citing a lack of trust in EVMs by the Congress party.
Ashoka criticized the government’s financial management, alleging inadequate funds for state development and irregular salary disbursements to employees. He also questioned the government’s priorities, citing the allocation of significant resources towards monitoring hate speech instead of addressing critical issues. The opposition leader further accused the state government of corruption, specifically referencing a multi-billion rupee scandal in the Excise Department. Despite presenting evidence, Ashoka claimed that the government remains unresponsive, leading to public disillusionment.
Asserting the opposition’s commitment to transparency, Ashoka highlighted the party’s advertisement promoting the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act (VB-G RAM G) scheme. He contrasted this with allegations of misuse of government funds for advertising by the Congress party.
