Former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai has reacted sharply to Karnataka Congress MLA Gaviyappa’s recent suggestion to reconsider some of the party’s guarantee schemes, which were introduced as part of Congress’ poll promises. Bommai asserted that Gaviyappa’s comment is reflective of a wider discontent within the ruling Congress party, especially among its own MLAs, who are struggling to fulfill the promises made during the election campaign.
“It is not only Gaviyappa; this is the feeling of all the MLAs, more so the ruling party MLAs, because they are unable to fulfill the promises regarding development in their constituencies,” Bommai said, pointing out that there has been little progress on the ground since the Congress government assumed power. According to Bommai, the Congress leadership has failed to allocate any funds for development work in the state, leaving the promises of better infrastructure, welfare, and governance unfulfilled.
Bommai further criticized the Congress-led state government for its financial mismanagement, saying that not a single paisa has been allocated for essential development projects. “Congress ministers have taken a lot of memoranda from MLAs for Rs 20-30 crores, but none of those have been sanctioned because there is no money,” he stated, accusing the government of failing to provide financial support for critical projects. He highlighted that even basic needs, such as payments for daily wage workers, contractors, and essential services like anganwadis and ambulance drivers, are being neglected due to a lack of funds.
The BJP leader warned that the situation is fast deteriorating in the state and that the Congress government’s inability to manage finances is putting the state’s economy at risk. “This is a very bad situation in the state. Guarantees without any financial support will lead to the bankruptcy of the state,” Bommai said, criticizing the guarantees offered by the Congress as financially unsustainable.
Bommai’s comments reflect ongoing tensions between the opposition and the ruling Congress party in Karnataka, particularly as concerns mount about the implementation of the Congress’s ambitious welfare schemes. While the Congress government has promised several benefits to the people, including free electricity, loans, and financial aid for various sectors, the lack of funds to support these schemes has raised doubts about their long-term viability.
As the political landscape in Karnataka continues to evolve, the BJP is likely to use the financial challenges faced by the Congress government as a key point of critique in the lead-up to future elections.
