BJP Accuses Siddaramaiah of Burdening Karnataka with Debt During By-Elections

Bagalkot, April 4: During the by-election campaign in Karnataka’s Bagalkot, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a fierce attack on the Congress government. BJP General Secretary and MLC C.T. Ravi accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of plunging the state into significant debt.

In a conversation with the media, C.T. Ravi stated that Karnataka’s total debt has reached ₹8.32 lakh crore, with over ₹5 lakh crore incurred during Siddaramaiah’s tenure. He provocatively questioned whether it was wrong to refer to him as “Saalada (debtor) Ramayya.”

Providing annual figures, the BJP leader noted that loans of ₹90,280 crore for 2023–24, ₹1.07 lakh crore for 2024–25, ₹1.16 lakh crore for 2025–26, and ₹1.32 lakh crore for 2026–27 have been taken. He claimed that approximately 60% of the total borrowing in the last eight years occurred during Siddaramaiah’s time, while only 40% was borrowed under previous chief ministers over the past 30 years.

C.T. Ravi also accused the state government of a ₹6,000 crore excise scam, naming Excise Minister R.B. Thimmappa. He mentioned issues related to the mud scam and drug cases, alleging widespread corruption within the government.

Expressing concern over farmer suicides, he noted that Karnataka ranks second in this distressing statistic, highlighting a serious situation. He also raised issues regarding the suicides of government employees and honest officials.

The BJP leader alleged a shortage of medicines in government hospitals, leading to maternal and infant mortality cases. He remarked that the Congress government is often in the headlines for either corruption or inflation.

Referencing the stampede during the celebration of the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) victory in the IPL, he claimed that 11 people died and held the state government responsible for the incident.

In conclusion, C.T. Ravi challenged the chief minister and his ministers to list their achievements during their tenure. He questioned what concrete work has been done for Bagalkot, suggesting that if the by-elections were not approaching, the foundation for a medical college might not have been laid.