In a scathing attack on his party and the functioning of the state government, senior Congress MLA Raju Kage expressed deep disappointment over the prevailing administrative paralysis, saying, “The system has collapsed completely, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I resign in two days.” The remarks have further intensified the crisis within the ruling Congress in Karnataka following a series of explosive revelations from within its ranks.
Speaking to the media at Ainapur village in Kagawad taluk of Belgavi district, Kage openly supported fellow party MLA B.R. Patil, whose viral audio alleging corruption and irregularities in housing allocations has triggered political tremors in the Siddaramaiah-led government.
“What B.R. Patil said is not false. I fully support him. I too am a witness to the deep-rooted dysfunction in the administration,” Kage said, lending weight to the growing dissent among Congress legislators.
No progress on sanctioned projects
Highlighting the delays and red tape in the implementation of projects, Raju Kage revealed that Rs 25 crore had been sanctioned to his constituency under the Chief Minister’s Special Grant. Out of this, Rs 12 crore was meant for road development, and work has started under that allocation. However, no work orders have been issued for the remaining Rs 13 crore despite repeated requests.
Further, 72 community-building projects that were approved over the past two years remain on paper. “There is no progress. No work orders have been issued. Local engineers are sitting idle, contractors are showing zero interest, and the public is questioning us, their elected representatives,” he lamented.
“The public has started holding MLAs accountable. What can we do when the system itself is in disarray? If nothing changes, I might have to resign. That is the mood I am in right now,” he said, clearly agitated.
Bureaucratic negligence and contractor inaction
Kage minced no words in attacking the local bureaucracy. “The officers are not responding, not even acknowledging our queries. Contractors who have secured tenders are not starting work, and no one is questioning them. This shows how badly the machinery has collapsed,” he said.
He alleged that contractors are exploiting loopholes in the agreements, but the administration is turning a blind eye to this. “It’s been two years since some of the foundation stones were laid, but not a single brick has been added. It’s shameful,” Kage said, visibly angered.
Growing unease within Congress
Kage’s outburst comes close on the heels of Aland MLA B.R. Patil’s revelation that a Maulana Azad Residential School was being constructed in his constituency without his knowledge and that funds from two different departments were being used for the same purpose — raising questions about transparency, duplication, and misuse of funds.
Together, these statements have fueled speculation about widening cracks within the Congress ranks, with several senior MLAs now openly questioning governance and decision-making in the Siddaramaiah administration.
Call for introspection
Both Kage and Patil’s remarks serve as a wake-up call for the Congress leadership, which had come to power promising transparent, pro-people governance. The ruling party now finds itself under fire not just from the opposition but from within its legislative team.
As discontent brews, opposition parties are expected to intensify their demand for an independent probe into administrative and financial irregularities. Meanwhile, all eyes are now on whether Raju Kage will follow through on his threat to resign — a move that could further destabilize the Congress in north Karnataka.
MP Jagadish Shettar said many MLAs will join the BJP
Senior BJP leader and Member of Parliament Jagadish Shettar, on June 23, backed the growing dissent within the Congress party, saying that Kagawad Congress MLA Raju Kage’s criticism of the government is justified. Shettar’s remarks come as a direct attack on the Siddaramaiah-led administration, which is under increasing fire from both the opposition and its legislators over allegations of administrative paralysis and widespread corruption.
Addressing the media in Belagavi, Shettar accused the Congress government of losing its grip on governance. “Corruption is widespread across departments. There is no development, and the state’s financial health is deteriorating rapidly. This is not just the BJP saying this — even Congress MLAs are admitting the same. What more proof do we need?” he asked.
He went further to mock the Chief Minister, saying, “Siddaramaiah is busy doing the work of wiping ghee on the nose — indulging in showmanship while governance is collapsing around him.”
