The Karnataka Congress government is facing serious allegations of corruption and political fund-raising, following claims that a sitting Congress MLA, Veerendra Pappi, allegedly offered ₹300 crore to the party’s high command in exchange for a ministerial berth and to fund the Bihar Assembly elections.
The explosive allegation, first raised by the Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka, has triggered a fresh political storm, with the BJP accusing the Siddaramaiah-led government of using Karnataka as an “ATM” for Congress’s national election expenses.
“Do you need more proof that this is Rahul Gandhi’s #ATMSarkara?” Ashoka asked, addressing a press conference in Bengaluru. “A Congress MLA is reportedly trying to become a minister by paying ₹300 crore to the high command for the Bihar elections. If that’s what an MLA is doing, imagine what the CM, DCM and other ministers are doing to retain their positions,” he said.
ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರ @RahulGandhi ಅವರ #ATMSarkara ಎನ್ನುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ಇದಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿ ಬೇಕಾ?
ಬಿಹಾರ ಚುನಾವಣೆಗಾಗಿ ಹೈಕಮಾಂಡ್ ಗೆ 300 ಕೋಟಿ ರೂಪಾಯಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟು ಮಂತ್ರಿಗಿರಿ ಗಿಟ್ಟಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಶಾಸಕ ವೀರೇಂದ್ರ ಪಪ್ಪಿ ಅವರ ಕರ್ಮಕಾಂಡ ನೋಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರೆ ಇನ್ನು ಸಿಎಂ, ಡಿಸಿಎಂ,… pic.twitter.com/UxiMy9OMjB
— R. Ashoka (@RAshokaBJP) October 10, 2025
R. Ashoka alleged that corruption has become institutionalized under the Congress rule in Karnataka. “They loot for elections, then buy power and once in power, loot even more. It’s a vicious circle of political greed and blackmail,” he remarked.
The BJP leader also claimed that funds from various state-run corporations, including the Valmiki Development Corporation, were misused to finance the Telangana and Lok Sabha elections earlier. “Thousands of crores were already looted for the Telangana and general elections. Now, they are milking Kannadigas’ tax money for Bihar,” Ashoka said.
Ashoka questioned the Congress party’s moral authority to talk about the election integrity. “What morality does Rahul Gandhi have to preach about democracy and the Election Commission when his party is running elections with black money?” he asked, demanding a central probe into the alleged fund mobilization for Bihar.
BJP’s attack on governance and corruption
Ashoka accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of neglecting Bengaluru’s development while focusing on political fundraising. “I saw a report yesterday that tar was being applied on city roads during rainfall. Congress has brought a new ‘technology’ applying tar in the rain. Even America and Japan don’t have it,” he mocked.
10 ಕೆಜಿ ಅಕ್ಕಿ ಕೊಡುತ್ತೇವೆ ಎಂದಿದ್ದು ಬರೀ ಬೊಗಳೆ ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಮತ್ತೊಮ್ಮೆ ಸಾಬೀತುಪಡಿಸಿದೆ @INCKarnataka ಸರ್ಕಾರ!!
ಪ್ರಧಾನಿ ನರೇಂದ್ರ ಮೋದಿ ಕೊಡುತ್ತಿರುವ “5 ಕೆಜಿ” ಅಕ್ಕಿ ಮಾತ್ರ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೆ ನಿಕ್ಕಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಸಿಎಂ @siddaramaiah ಮತ್ತು ಡಿಸಿಎಂ @DKShivakumar ಅವರು ಹೇಳಿದ್ದ 10 ಕೆಜಿ ಅಕ್ಕಿ ಮರಳಿಬಾರದೂರಿಗೆ ಪಯಣಿಸಿದೆ! pic.twitter.com/yqx74kyMN8
— R. Ashoka (@RAshokaBJP) October 11, 2025
He further slammed the government for mismanagement of Bengaluru’s civic works and flood response. “Heavy rains have created chaos in the city. Instead of fixing stormwater drains, they’re busy collecting money for elections. If the CM and DCM go for city rounds, traffic jams for three hours are guaranteed. It’s better they stay in Vidhana Soudha,” he quipped.
“Dinner diplomacy” to raise Bihar funds
Ashoka also alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently held a “dinner meeting” with ministers to fix contribution targets for the Bihar elections. “The ministers were reportedly told how much each should contribute. The gold bar plan failed, so they’re looking for alternative ways to raise money through these meetings,” he said.
He further accused Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar of using his political influence to consolidate control within the government. “There’s no money in the treasury or the BBMP. Contractors have stopped payments. Yet, the DCM is eyeing the CM’s chair. The entire government has been reduced to a fundraising syndicate,” he charged.
Congress silent, BJP demands probe
While the Congress leadership has not issued any official response, BJP leaders are demanding a high-level investigation into the ₹300 crore allegation. “This is not just about corruption it’s about Karnataka’s dignity being compromised for Congress’s national politics,” Ashoka said.
He accused the Congress of turning the state into a cash source for its central leadership. “First Telangana, then Delhi and now Bihar — every election is funded by Karnataka’s loot. The people of Karnataka deserve to know how their money is being used,” he said.
The BJP has decided to escalate the matter both in the state assembly and at the national level, with plans to submit a memorandum to the Election Commission of India, demanding an inquiry into the alleged misuse of state resources for political funding.
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