BJP ‘sold governance’ in Karnataka, alleges Congress

New Delhi: The Congress on Friday described the outgoing BJP government in Karnataka as “corrupt” and accused it of having “sold governance” in the southern state.

Ahead of the May 10 Karnataka assembly election, the Congress released a set of posters listing out the “corruption rates” in the state between 2019 and 2023 while terming the BJP government a “trouble engine”.

Sharing one of the posters of the “corruption rate list”, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the people of Karnataka will give the BJP only 40 seats as the party seems to be in love with the number.

The “40 per cent commission’ row erupted in the southern state following the death of Belagavi-based contractor Santosh Patil who had earlier alleged that then minister K S Eshwarappa demanded 40 per cent commission for the release of funds for the civil works undertaken by him at a village.

Posting a photo of the “corruption rates” poster released by the Congress, the party’s general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh tweeted, “The rate at which BJP has sold governance in Karnataka. This is the BJP double engine of ‘DelhiJhoot’ and ‘BengaluruLoot’.”

Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala tweeted, “The Digit ’40’ is ingrained in BJP! The 40 km roadshow in Bengaluru by prime minister today seems to depict the symbolism of 40 per cent BJP Sarkara! As Manipur burns, PM is busy electioneering. Is this the way PM follows Raj Dharma?”

The Congress is seeking to wrest power from the BJP in Karnataka, the only state in southern India where the saffron party is in power.