Bengaluru, Nov 14 Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka, on Saturday took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the alleged nexus between politics and business, citing the rise in declared family assets of Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
Reacting to a post on X quoting Gandhi’s criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s alleged proximity to businessman Gautam Adani, Ashoka questioned why the Congress leader was not examining the wealth of his own party’s leaders.
“Mr Rahul Gandhi is busy lecturing the country on the politics-business nexus. Perhaps he should first look at his own backyard!” Ashoka posted on X.
He claimed that Shivakumar’s declared family assets had increased more than fivefold in 10 years, from Rs 251 crore in 2013 to Rs 1,413 crore in 2023.
“Today, he is India’s richest chief minister and Karnataka’s richest MLA. Clearly, the ‘Aloo se Sona’ machine must be doing exceptionally well!” Ashoka said, sarcastically referencing Gandhi’s earlier political remark.
Addressing Gandhi, he added, “@RahulGandhi ji, perhaps Karnataka’s model of wealth creation deserves a chapter in your next lecture?”
Ashoka also shared an undated media report with his post describing Shivakumar as India’s richest Chief Minister, with declared assets of Rs 1,413 crore, and claiming his wealth exceeded the combined assets of Chief Ministers from the Hindi heartland.
The report also cited Shivakumar’s affidavit, stating that he owned more than 71 acres of agricultural and other land in the district, valued at Rs 10.37 crore.
In its post on X, Congress shared Rahul Gandhi’s video in which he had accused the BJP of benefiting from a close nexus between politics and business, referring to the rise in the wealth of businessman Gautam Adani and the BJP’s assets.
Rahul, in his address at the Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad, alleged that the line between business and politics had disappeared in the relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Adani.
He also claimed that the BJP’s assets had grown 11-fold in a decade, making it a financial powerhouse against which no other party could compete.
(PTI News)
