Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, criticized outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for allegedly plunging the state into a severe financial crisis before handing over leadership to D.K. Shivakumar. Ashoka claimed that Siddaramaiah’s focus is now on securing a favorable position for his son, rather than addressing the state’s financial woes. He accused Siddaramaiah of leaving behind a financially distressed Karnataka for his successor to manage, emphasizing the state’s dire economic situation.
Ashoka, in a strongly-worded statement titled “Karnataka in Ruins: The Shameful Legacy of Siddaramaiah,” asserted that the outgoing Chief Minister had essentially abandoned a state grappling with economic turmoil. He criticized the Congress party’s portrayal of the leadership transition as smooth, alleging that Siddaramaiah chose not to fight for his position due to the deteriorating financial condition of Karnataka. Ashoka accused the Congress government of driving the state into an “insurmountable ocean of debt,” leading to a halt in developmental activities and financial distress across various sectors.
The BJP leader further claimed that under Siddaramaiah’s administration, several sectors faced financial strain due to unpaid government dues, impacting contractors, power distribution companies, and welfare schemes. He highlighted issues such as halted Gruha Lakshmi instalments, delayed funds for the Shakti scheme, and pending allocations for the Annabhagya scheme. Ashoka questioned the sustainability of the Congress government’s guarantee schemes, warning that unscientific welfare commitments could burden citizens with higher taxes in the future.
Accusing Siddaramaiah of prioritizing political gains for his son over addressing the state’s financial challenges, Ashoka criticized the former Chief Minister’s visits to New Delhi. He alleged that Siddaramaiah’s replacement by D.K. Shivakumar, reportedly at the behest of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, had sparked discontent among members of the Other Backward Classes community. Ashoka reiterated the BJP’s commitment to raising these issues within the Legislative Assembly and through public protests, emphasizing the party’s efforts to ensure the clearance of pending payments to contractors, RTC employees, and welfare scheme beneficiaries.
