K’taka: BJP slams Nagendra’s reinduction, calls Shivakumar ‘rubber‑stamp’

Bengaluru, Aug 3 (AHN) Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Congress government over the reinduction of B. Nagendra into the State Cabinet, alleging that the ruling party had rewarded a “tainted” leader despite the alleged Valmiki Development Corporation scam.

Ashoka said the Congress government should be ashamed of inducting Nagendra into the Cabinet, alleging that a leader accused in the alleged misappropriation of funds meant for the Scheduled Tribe community had been rewarded with a ministerial berth.

Referring to the alleged Rs 187‑crore scam in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, Ashoka alleged that money meant for the welfare of poor Scheduled Tribe beneficiaries had been diverted and that Nagendra had now been welcomed back into the Cabinet despite the controversy.

He claimed that the then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had himself admitted on the floor of the Assembly that irregularities had taken place in the Valmiki Development Corporation. “Despite this, the Congress has once again rewarded B. Nagendra with a ministerial berth without any sense of accountability,” Ashoka alleged.

The BJP leader accused the Congress government of failing to fix responsibility in major controversies during its tenure. He alleged that no one had been held accountable in the alleged Rs 187‑crore Valmiki Corporation scam and also referred to the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede tragedy, in which 11 people lost their lives during the IPL victory celebrations, claiming that no responsibility had been fixed in that incident either.

Questioning Nagendra’s reinduction, Ashoka alleged that funds meant for the education, housing and welfare of Scheduled Tribe communities had been looted instead of being utilised for public welfare. He also accused the Congress high command of rewarding leaders despite the allegations against them and termed the Cabinet berth a betrayal of the people of Karnataka, particularly the Valmiki community.

Ashoka further alleged that the Congress government was protecting corruption and shielding those accused of wrongdoing. He asserted that the people of Karnataka would not forgive what he described as corruption, commission practices and the protection of those facing allegations, and claimed that the tenure of what he termed the “loot government” was nearing its end.

Ashoka also launched a fresh attack on Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, alleging that he had failed to exercise the constitutional authority vested in him while constituting the State Cabinet. He said the Constitution gives the Chief Minister the exclusive prerogative to decide which MLAs should be sworn in as Ministers. “It is entirely the Chief Minister’s discretion to decide which legislators should take oath as Ministers. The Constitution has vested this authority in the Chief Minister,” he said.

Questioning the manner in which the Cabinet was constituted, Ashoka alleged that Shivakumar was not exercising the powers vested in his office. “But what is happening in your government?” he asked.

The BJP leader went on to describe Shivakumar as a “rubber‑stamp Chief Minister,” alleging that he was unable to exercise his constitutional authority independently. “What is the use of having a rubber‑stamp Chief Minister who is incapable of exercising that authority?” Ashoka said.

He further challenged the Chief Minister to resign if he was unable to function independently. “If you have even a little self‑respect, you should immediately resign and go home,” Ashoka said.

Ashoka’s remarks came hours after the Congress government expanded the State Cabinet by inducting 19 legislators as Ministers.