BJP: K'taka Moving Towards Bankruptcy Under Congress

The Congress-led state government is driving Karnataka towards bankruptcy, Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra said on Monday in response to chief minister Siddaramaiah's recent dismissal of opposition claims about an economic crisis.

- HT Correspondent

BENGALURU:

Two days after Siddaramaiah rejected allegations that the state's finances were in distress, Vijayendra, in an open letter, challenged the CM's narrative, alleging that fiscal mismanagement, diversion of funds, and mounting debts had weakened Karnataka's financial stability. The letter comes ahead of the state budget presentation on March 7.

Vijayendra said that state's financial health was deteriorating due to unfulfilled guarantees and reckless borrowing. He pointed out that government departments collectively owed ₹6,000 crore in unpaid electricity bills, while the transport department alone had pending dues of ₹7,000 crore.

"Karnataka is moving towards complete bankruptcy under the Congress government. The government is struggling to pay salaries. Power supply companies are unable to clear their bills. Karnataka is heading towards a severe financial crisis," he wrote, demanding that the administration release a White Paper on the state's financial condition.

He also accused the Congress government of misallocating ₹25,426 crore meant for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe welfare and failing to meet its electoral commitments.