Bengaluru, June 5: Senior BJP leader and opposition head R. Ashoka has launched a sharp attack on the Congress party regarding ongoing internal disagreements and dissatisfaction over the distribution of cabinet departments in the Karnataka government.
Ashoka highlighted the discontent among Congress leaders, questioning the stability of the ruling party. He commented on the resignations of some ministers and their public dissatisfaction regarding the allocation of departments.
Mocking the internal conflicts within the ruling party, Ashoka stated, “The people of Karnataka may one day witness a morning when the sun does not rise, but such a day will never come when there are no internal disputes within the Congress in Karnataka.”
He further suggested that with two years remaining in Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s term, senior Congress leaders like Rahul Gandhi, K.C. Venugopal, and Randeep Singh Surjewala should consider renting a permanent office in Bengaluru or, better yet, purchasing a house. This would facilitate the resolution of internal disputes that frequently require intervention from central leaders.
Questioning the necessity of repeated visits by top leaders, he remarked that there is no need for constant trips to resolve the ongoing power struggles within the state Congress.
Ashoka also referenced comments from ministers expressing dissatisfaction with the distribution of departments, including statements from senior leaders K.H. Muniyappa and Ramalinga Reddy, who reportedly voiced their grievances about the departments assigned to them.
He accused the Congress leadership of publicly claiming that all is well, while internal disagreements are clearly evident in the government’s functioning.
The BJP leader noted that although Congress leaders take oaths in the names of social reformers like Basavanna and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a fierce competition for powerful departments arises once they are in power. He claimed that leaders do not actively seek departments related to social welfare and the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, accepting them less enthusiastically compared to other key ministries.
He also pointed out the inadequate representation of women in the state cabinet. Concluding his remarks, Ashoka stated that the Congress party’s claims of social justice and socialism do not align with its internal operations.
On Friday, Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy decided to resign from the Karnataka Cabinet, alleging that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had reneged on promises regarding the allocation of the Bengaluru Urban Department. This development occurred just a day after the distribution of departments.
Reddy announced that he would submit his resignation, leaving the decision of acceptance to the leadership. He alleged that both Chief Minister Shivakumar and his brother D.K. Suresh had personally assured him that the promise would be fulfilled. Despite repeated assurances, he was later assigned the Water Resources Department instead of the Bengaluru Urban Department.
Stating that he could no longer work against his conscience, Reddy declared his resignation from the ministerial position, clarifying that he would remain an MLA and continue in the Congress party.
Expressing his frustration over the situation, he remarked, “It is humiliating. How much more should I endure? I ask the media, what else could I have done?”
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