BJP attacks Karnataka Cabinet expansion over Nagendra’s induction

The BJP criticised the Karnataka Cabinet expansion, alleging that B Nagendra was rewarded despite corruption allegations and questioning the absence of women ministers. The party also claimed several districts were denied representation and highlighted dissent within the ruling Congress over the expansion.

Bengaluru: The BJP on Monday criticised the Congress government in Karnataka over the induction of B Nagendra into the state Cabinet, alleging that he was being rewarded despite his alleged involvement in the Valmiki Corporation scam. It also attacked the ruling party over the absence of women among the newly inducted ministers.

Taking to social media platform X, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka hit out at the Congress government, claiming that despite the alleged loot of Rs 187 crore in the Valmiki Development Corporation scam, no one had been held accountable.

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“A tainted leader who looted funds meant for Scheduled Tribes has been rewarded with a ministerial berth again! The corrupt Congress government should be ashamed,” he said, targeting Nagendra’s induction into the Cabinet.

“Did Rahul Gandhi and the Congress high command appreciate this alleged ‘ability to loot’ and reward him with a ministerial post?” he asked, claiming that it was a grave injustice to the people of Karnataka, especially the Valmiki community.

“The people of Karnataka will never forgive this corruption, commission racket and protection of those accused of looting. The end of this ‘government of loot’ is drawing near,” he alleged.

In another post on X, Ashoka claimed that the Congress government was facing growing internal dissent over the Cabinet expansion. He alleged that Indi MLA Yashavanthray Gowda had resigned while Sagar MLA Belur Gopalakrishna had threatened to quit.

Ashoka also claimed that supporters of MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar had staged a protest after she was overlooked. He further alleged that legislators from Kolar and Chikkaballapur were planning a meeting amid calls for mass resignations over the lack of Cabinet representation.

He further alleged that Raichur, Yadgir and Uttara Kannada districts had also been denied representation and criticised the government for not inducting any women into the expanded Cabinet despite its flagship welfare schemes for women.

BJP state president B Y Vijayendra hit out at Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, alleging that after waiting for two months at the doorstep of the high command, he had finally formed a “remarkable” Cabinet by appointing as ministers those facing corruption allegations and those who failed to prevent question paper leaks.

“You speak about women’s welfare, opposed the Women’s Reservation Bill brought by the Central government, and now have not given a ministerial berth to even a single woman in your Cabinet. Is this your concern for women?” he asked in a post on X.

The BJP leader also took a dig at the Congress, saying that another “achievement” was that eight districts had not been given even a single ministerial berth.

“Was there not even one capable person from these eight districts who deserved to become a minister?” he asked, claiming that the people would teach a fitting lesson to this government, which promotes corruption and is anti-women, in the days to come.

In the first expansion of the two-month-old Karnataka Cabinet led by Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, 19 MLAs were sworn in as ministers on Monday even as a Congress legislator resigned from his post over his exclusion from the ministry.

Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers at a ceremony held at the Lok Bhavan premises here.