Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has firmly rejected accusations from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that he failed to declare an expensive wristwatch in his election affidavit. The Congress leader asserted his complete transparency regarding all his assets and dismissed the claims as baseless.
Shivakumar's Strong Rebuttal at Vidhana Soudha
The controversy erupted after BJP MLC Narayanaswamy alleged that Shivakumar had omitted details of a costly watch in his affidavit. Addressing reporters at Vidhana Soudha on Thursday, the deputy chief minister gave a sharp response. "What does he know? I know about my affidavit. I am the one who paid the money for the watches, and I have disclosed all the details transparently," Shivakumar stated.
He explicitly mentioned declaring ownership of a Rolex watch and added, "I have nothing to learn from Narayanaswamy." When questioned about the BJP leader's comment that his own watch had been stolen, Shivakumar retorted with sarcasm, saying, "Yes, I stole from his house!"
The Spark: Matching Luxury Watches at 'Breakfast 2.0'
The political row gained traction earlier this week following a public event. During the "Breakfast 2.0" gathering, both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM Shivakumar were seen wearing strikingly similar gold-toned watches during their joint press appearance.
Observers and those close to the leaders noted that the watches appeared to be from the Cartier Santos De line, with each piece estimated to be worth around Rs 43 lakh. The matching accessories became a talking point in political circles, adding a curious subtext to the day's messaging on unity within the government. Neither office officially commented on the watches at the time.
Shivakumar Highlights Women's Empowerment Initiatives
Apart from addressing the allegations, Shivakumar also spoke at a convention of women employees on the same day. He highlighted several measures launched by the Congress government aimed at women's empowerment. "Women are capable in all aspects today. They are a lot more disciplined than men. Our government supports the function of women's employees' organisation," he affirmed.
The deputy chief minister's comments and his dismissal of the BJP's allegations underscore the ongoing political tussles in Karnataka, where asset declarations and transparency remain focal points of contention between the ruling party and the opposition.
