Bengaluru: A fresh political storm has erupted in Karnataka after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that an internal party investigation revealed a massive electoral fraud in Mahadevapura constituency during the last Lok Sabha elections. Gandhi claimed that over 1,00,250 votes were illegally added, accusing the Election Commission of colluding with the ruling BJP to “steal” the polls.
The Karnataka BJP wasted no time hitting back, turning the tables on Gandhi with a blistering set of 13 pointed questions – each designed to put the Congress leader and his state government in the dock.
Question 1: The Rs 187 crore Maharshi Valmiki Corporation scam
The BJP alleged that funds meant for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes were siphoned off to finance Congress election campaigns in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Apart from accepting Minister B. Nagendra’s resignation, the government has taken no punitive action, they claimed. The BJP challenged Rahul Gandhi: “Will you apologize to the Scheduled Tribes for diverting their welfare funds into party coffers?”
Question 2: The ‘market of corruption’
Listing a litany of alleged scams – from MUDA land allocation irregularities, the labour kit scam, the housing scam, to a Rs 200 crore bribe demand from wine merchants – the BJP asked whether this was the kind of “corruption shop” Gandhi had opened under the Congress banner.
Question 3: Betrayal of Scheduled Tribes
The BJP accused the Congress government of misappropriating ₹40,000 crore intended for tribal welfare. The question was direct: “When will you return this money to the Scheduled Tribes and seek their forgiveness for this betrayal?”
Question 4: Changing the Constitution?
BJP leaders pointed to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s controversial statement about altering the Constitution to give minorities certain reservations. They demanded to know whether Rahul Gandhi endorsed this and whether he would publicly apologize for undermining the vision of B.R. Ambedkar.
Question 5: Price hike burden
According to the BJP, since the Congress assumed power in 2023, the cost of essentials – electricity, milk, and fuel – has skyrocketed, crushing household budgets across Karnataka. They asked Gandhi: “Will you apologize to every Kannadiga for making life unaffordable?”
Question 6: Education system collapse
The BJP targeted the Congress for appointing an Education Minister “who cannot read or write Kannada,” claiming this decision had bankrupted the education department, leaving no funds even for children’s uniforms or shoes.
Question 7: Rise in drugs and terrorism
The saffron party accused the Congress of failing to control law and order, citing the arrest of an Al-Qaeda operative in Bengaluru by Gujarat ATS and the discovery of a drug manufacturing unit in Mysuru by Mumbai Police – incidents allegedly unnoticed by Karnataka Police.
Question 8: Atrocities on marginalized women
In Belagavi and Bagalkot, BJP alleged, lower-caste women had been subjected to heinous crimes under the Congress regime, yet justice was denied and accused persons remained at large.
Question 9: Withdrawing riot cases for vote bank politics
The BJP accused the Congress of protecting those involved in the DJ Halli, KG Halli, and Udayagiri riots by withdrawing hundreds of cases. They asked Gandhi if he sided with lawbreakers over law-abiding citizens.
Question 10: Farmer suicides
With fertilizer black-marketing and alleged neglect of farmers, the BJP claimed suicides had increased, while ministers remained “inaccessible.” They demanded an apology for “failing the breadwinners of the nation.”
Question 11: Bengaluru’s pothole crisis
BJP painted a grim picture of the state capital, describing half-built flyovers, cratered roads, and unsafe footpaths. They accused D.K. Shivakumar of focusing more on his CM ambitions than on fixing Brand Bengaluru’s crumbling infrastructure.
Question 12: Deaths during RCB victory celebration
The BJP alleged that Congress leaders ignored police warnings and organized a chaotic RCB celebration, resulting in 11 deaths due to stampedes and mismanagement. They termed it “Congress-sponsored murder” and demanded Gandhi’s apology.
Question 13: Doubling of prices
Finally, they accused the Congress government of doubling prices for milk, curd, electricity, and registration fees, burdening the poor and middle class.
While Rahul Gandhi has doubled down on his accusations of electoral fraud, the BJP’s pointed questions seek to turn the political spotlight squarely back on the Congress government’s performance in Karnataka.
With neither side showing signs of backing down, this war of words is likely to intensify ahead of the next election cycle – setting the stage for a bitter political confrontation in the months to come.
