Hubballi, Oct 18 Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Sunday alleged discontent within the Congress over Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s leadership, claiming that efforts were underway within the ruling party to remove him from the post.
He said the Congress’s internal differences and questions surrounding recent sting operations would come to the fore after the October 23 Legislative Council elections.
“Several senior state Congress leaders have lost faith in Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. The developments surrounding the recent sting operations raise questions about the Congress’s internal politics. Efforts are underway within the Congress to humiliate former CM Siddaramaiah. The sting operation setup seems to have moved from the KPCC office to Vidhana Soudha,” Vijayendra claimed.
Speaking to reporters here, he said the circumstances surrounding the sting operations, including who was behind them, whom they targeted and their motive, would become clearer in the coming days.
Vijayendra alleged that sting operations had been conducted against ministers and Congress legislators, claiming that some senior party leaders had discussed the developments and were likely to meet after the MLC polls to decide their next course of action.
“The discontent over Shivakumar’s leadership is being discussed in political circles. Sting operations seem to have been carried out on ministers and Congress legislators, and conspiracies are being hatched to remain in power. Some senior Congress leaders have discussed all of this; they will all meet after the MLC polls and are likely to make some move regarding the CM post in the days ahead,” he claimed.
Reiterating his earlier prediction that Siddaramaiah would have to step down as CM, Vijayendra said Congress leaders had initially dismissed his remarks.
“I’m saying it once again now that high-level meetings were underway within the Congress party to make Shivakumar step down from the CM post,” he added.
On the Legislative Council elections, Vijayendra expressed confidence that NDA candidates from the BJP and JD(S) would win all four seats. He said leaders and workers of the two parties were campaigning together to ensure the victory of the alliance nominees.
Turning to the grievances of sugarcane farmers, Vijayendra accused the state government of shirking its responsibility by leaving the matter to the Centre, banks and sugar factories.
He urged the government to consider announcing a State Advised Price (SAP) for sugarcane, pointing out that states such as Haryana and Uttar Pradesh provide additional assistance to growers.
“If the state government is genuinely concerned about farmers, it should respond to their distress and consider fixing a State Advised Price (SAP) for sugarcane,” he said.
Questioning the state government’s announcement of Rs 2,500 in relief for drought-affected farmers, Vijayendra asked whether the amount was adequate to address their difficulties.
He said the Centre was considering measures to provide a lasting solution to the problems faced by sugarcane growers.
On alleged irregularities and delays in Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment, Vijayendra demanded an impartial investigation and the filling of vacant government posts.
He opposed abolishing the commission, saying the government should instead restore transparency and public confidence in the recruitment process.
“If irregularities occurred during the previous BJP government, they should also be investigated impartially. Whoever is responsible should face legal action,” he said.
Vijayendra said prolonged delays in examinations, interviews and the declaration of results had caused hardship to thousands of job aspirants. He asked the Congress government to clarify how many of the approximately 2.5 lakh vacant government posts it had promised to fill before the elections had actually been filled.
(PTI News)
