BJP 'sold governance' in Karnataka, alleges Congress

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.

"BJP's 40 per cent commission Sarkara's 'Rate Card'! 'Trouble Engine' BJP is in love with the number 40, people of Karnataka will give them 40 seats only," Gandhi said on Twitter.

The Congress has been hitting out at the BJP government in Karnataka with the "40 per cent commission sarkara" jibe as it seeks to wrest power from the BJP in Karnataka, the only state in southern India where the saffron party is in power.

The "40 per cent commission' row erupted in the southern state following the death of Belagavi-based contractor Santosh Patil last year 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, Congress 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 Bommai government and the BJP are busy in Hindu-Muslim and raising fake religious bogeys as the IT and Innovation hub Bengaluru suffers job losses. Cognizant to lay off 3,500 employees. The atmosphere of polarisation, violence and BJP-driven hate is driving investment and jobs away from Karnataka," he said.

"Time to sack the divisive BJP. Time for a change. Change is here. Congress is here," Surjewala said.

The BJP, however, hit back saying the Congress has honestly proposed its own "commission rate card" with the people of Karnataka.

"Appreciation where it's due! The Congress Party has honestly proposed its Commission Rate Card to the people of Karnataka. The only thing they have missed out is that you will have to pay protection money in addition to these commissions to save yourself from PFI," BJP MP Tejasvi Surya tweeted sharing a copy of the Congress' advertisement in a newspaper.

"The Congress' dirty tricks department is working overtime to manufacture fake news. They had earlier fabricated a news item involving CT Ravi and the culprit was arrested. This digital artist too will meet the same fate," he said in another tweet.