On Monday, BY Vijayendra, the president of the BJP in Karnataka, claimed that the Congress-led state government is leading Karnataka towards financial ruin. This statement came after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dismissed claims that the state was facing an economic crisis. Vijayendra wrote an open letter challenging the CM’s comments, saying that the government’s poor money management, wasted funds, and rising debts are harming the state’s finances.
With the state budget coming up on March 7, Vijayendra pointed out some alarming issues. He mentioned that government departments owe around ₹6,000 crore in unpaid electricity bills. The transport department owes even more—₹7,000 crore. “Karnataka is heading towards complete bankruptcy under the Congress government. They are struggling to pay salaries. Power supply companies can’t pay their bills. The state is facing a severe financial crisis,” he stated. He also asked the government to release a detailed report about the state’s financial status.
Vijayendra accused the Congress government of using ₹25,426 crore meant for welfare programs for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes but not following through on their promises. He tied this financial mismanagement to a lack of order in the state, saying things like the recent violent incidents in places such as DJ Halli and KG Halli have scared people and made crime worse.
The BJP leader also criticized Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s comment that “even God cannot fix Bengaluru’s traffic problems,” questioning the government’s ability to manage things. He pointed out that fare hikes on the Bengaluru Metro and state buses are putting extra financial strain on the people.
Vijayendra warned that Karnataka’s debt has shot up by ₹2 lakh crore in just two years. “How much more will you borrow this year? Karnataka used to be a wealthy state but now can’t even pay its electricity and contractor bills,” he added. With the budget session approaching, he urged Siddaramaiah to focus on stabilizing the economy. He expressed concern that if the government keeps mismanaging funds, the state could face even worse financial trouble.
In response to this, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the BJP’s claims are misleading. He argued that it was the previous BJP government that drove the state’s economy into trouble. “The BJP left behind ₹2,70,695 crore in unpaid bills in various important departments. They approved spending without real planning,” he stated.
Siddaramaiah accused the BJP-led central government of holding back financial resources that Karnataka should have received. He mentioned that changes in tax distribution mean Karnataka is getting ₹51,000 crore instead of the ₹73,000 crore it deserves. He also pointed out that cutting off GST compensation created a revenue shortfall of ₹18,000-₹20,000 crore each year. Despite these issues, he insisted that Karnataka’s economy is steady. “Our budget grew by an average of 18.3% over the last two years, while it only grew by 5% during the BJP’s four years,” he claimed.
Siddaramaiah highlighted that the state is spending ₹90,000 crore each year on direct benefits and subsidies. He criticized the central government for its rising national debt and argued that this affects state finances. Karnataka is allocating 15.01% of its budget to capital projects, more than states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. “Despite the BJP’s attacks, Karnataka remains strong,” Siddaramaiah concluded, asking the opposition to stop spreading false information and work for the state’s growth.
As both parties clash over these issues, the upcoming budget session is set to be a heated debate on Karnataka’s economic future.
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