BJP state president B Y Vijayendra took a sharp swipe at the Congress party on Thursday, claiming that Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's newly formed cabinet is nothing but a replica of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's previous administration. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Vijayendra said, 'D K Shivakumar's cabinet looks like Siddaramaiah's cabinet. There is no change in the style of functioning or the faces in the government.'
Allegations of Corruption
Referring to the widespread allegations of corruption during Siddaramaiah's tenure, Vijayendra said, 'There were allegations of a 40 per cent commission regime under Siddaramaiah's government. We have to wait and see whether Shivakumar will set all this right.' He questioned the Congress party's commitment to transparency and accountability, adding that the people of Karnataka are watching closely.
Congress Responds
The Congress party, however, dismissed Vijayendra's remarks as baseless and politically motivated. Senior Congress leader and Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Krishna Byre Gowda, said, 'The BJP has no moral right to speak about corruption. Their own government at the Centre is mired in scams. The people of Karnataka have rejected the BJP in the recent elections, and such statements are just a sign of their frustration.'
The political slugfest comes amid the ongoing cabinet expansion in Karnataka, where Shivakumar has been tasked with balancing caste and regional equations. Analysts believe that the cabinet formation will have a significant impact on the Congress party's performance in the upcoming local body elections.
Meanwhile, political observers note that the BJP's criticism is part of a larger strategy to keep the Congress on the defensive. With the 2028 assembly elections still some time away, both parties are gearing up for a long political battle in the state.
