Bengaluru, Aug 4 (IANS) Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashoka, on Tuesday alleged that the newly expanded Karnataka Cabinet lacked “fresh faces” and had accommodated “tainted” leaders and those who secured ministerial berths through a “payment quota.”
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, R. Ashoka claimed the Cabinet expansion reflected that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar did not enjoy complete freedom in selecting his ministers.
“The new Cabinet is filled with tainted leaders, and many have found a place through a payment quota. It is evident that the Chief Minister did not have the freedom to choose his own team,” R. Ashoka alleged.
Referring to the alleged Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation scam, R. Ashoka alleged that funds meant for Scheduled Tribe welfare had been diverted for election purposes.
He claimed that former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had acknowledged in the Assembly that funds had been misappropriated and questioned the re-induction of B. Nagendra into the Cabinet.
“Nagendra went to jail in connection with the case. Who gave him a clean chit and brought him back into the Cabinet?” R. Ashoka asked.
He alleged that while the previous Chief Minister had removed Nagendra from the ministry, the present leadership had “washed him clean” and reinstated him.
Ashoka also criticised the Cabinet for allegedly failing to provide balanced regional representation.
He said districts such as Yadgir, Raichur, Vijayanagar, Kolar and Chikkaballapur had been left without ministerial representation, while several communities had also been overlooked.
The BJP leader pointed to protests by Congress legislators and workers following the Cabinet expansion, claiming the developments reflected widespread dissatisfaction within the ruling party.
“Some legislators have threatened to resign, and Congress workers themselves are protesting against the government. When BJP workers protest, cases are registered against them. Now Congress workers themselves are attacking the Chief Minister’s posters and raising slogans against him,” R. Ashoka alleged.
R. Ashoka further alleged that the Cabinet lacked any element of change and claimed that the inclusion of S.S. Mallikarjun in place of Mankal Vaidya at the last moment indicated that money had influenced the final list.
Ashoka also criticised the Congress for not inducting a single woman into the expanded Cabinet.
He said the Congress leadership had spoken extensively about women’s empowerment before the elections but had failed to provide representation to women in the ministry.
“Women constitute nearly 50 per cent of the population, yet not a single woman has been made a minister. This is a betrayal of the women of Karnataka,” he alleged.
Referring to Congress MLC Gayathri Shanthegowda, Ashoka claimed she had addressed a press conference after her name figured in the initial list but was ultimately left out of the Cabinet.
The Leader of the Opposition also accused the Congress of violating constitutional conventions by announcing names for the posts of Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Legislative Council Chairman and Deputy Chairman on the party’s letterhead.
He alleged that the Congress had treated constitutional offices as though they were ordinary appointments and demanded that the party apologise to the people of the State.
“Congress leaders carry copies of the Constitution in public, but they have ignored its very spirit by announcing names for constitutional posts in advance,” he alleged.
Commenting on the Cauvery water dispute, Ashoka said Tamil Nadu had approached the Supreme Court seeking implementation of water release directions and cautioned the Karnataka government against taking decisions that would compromise the State’s interests.
He alleged that if the Karnataka government released water to Tamil Nadu after reaching an understanding with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay, people of the State would not remain silent.
The BJP leader said the party would hold a meeting on Friday ahead of the Legislature session to finalise its strategy on raising issues concerning the Cabinet expansion, drought and the Cauvery dispute in both Houses of the Legislature.
–IANS
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