Karnataka LoP Ashoka accuses Congress of using Bangladeshi immigrants as vote bank
Synopsis
Karnataka BJP's Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka has accused the Congress government of treating illegal Bangladeshi immigrants as a vote bank and allegedly enrolling them in the state's electoral rolls via permanent residence certificates — a charge that directly targets Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar ahead of upcoming electoral battles.
Key Takeaways
Ashoka , Karnataka Leader of the Opposition, accused the Congress government of using illegal Bangladeshi immigrants as a vote bank on 11 July in Mysuru .
Ashoka alleged the Karnataka government was issuing permanent residence certificates to Bangladeshi nationals to include them in electoral rolls.
He urged citizens to participate in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged a counter-campaign was undermining it.
Shivakumar was labelled a 'mask Chief Minister' and targeted over government tenders.
Former West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee was also cited as allegedly extending benefits to Bangladeshi immigrants.
The Congress government in Karnataka had not formally responded to the allegations at the time of reporting.
R. Ashoka, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Karnataka Leader of the Opposition, on Saturday, 11 July launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in Mysuru, alleging that the state government was treating illegal immigrants from Bangladesh as a vote bank. Ashoka described Shivakumar as a 'mask Chief Minister', accusing him of misleading the people of Karnataka.
Key Allegations at Mysuru Event
Ashoka was speaking at a felicitation ceremony for newly elected MLC Raghu R. Kautilya, organised by the Federation of Working Communities at G.K. Grounds, Mysuru. The BJP had nominated Kautilya to the Legislative Council, which Ashoka said reflected the party's commitment to political representation for backward and marginalised communities.
Ashoka claimed that 'lakhs of Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals' were living in India and were allegedly availing government benefits. He further alleged that the Karnataka government was attempting to include Bangladeshi nationals in the state's electoral rolls by issuing permanent residence certificates — a charge the ruling Congress has not publicly addressed.
Attack on Electoral Roll Revision Drive
Ashoka urged citizens to participate in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, asserting that only eligible citizens should remain on the voters' list. He alleged that a counter-campaign was underway against the SIR process and that some groups were extending support to those attempting to undermine the country's laws.
He also stated that only the Central Government holds the authority to grant citizenship, implying that any state-level action to extend benefits or residency status to foreign nationals was constitutionally impermissible.
Shivakumar and Mamata Banerjee Targeted
Ashoka broadened his attack to include West Bengal former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging she had extended government benefits to Bangladeshi immigrants. He drew a parallel with the Karnataka government's alleged conduct, framing it as part of a wider pattern of vote bank politics by non-BJP-ruled states.
On the question of government tenders, Ashoka took a pointed swipe at Shivakumar. 'DK stands for Tender because, despite being in office for only a short period, he has floated tenders worth several years' work. He himself became Chief Minister through a 'tender.' Rahul Gandhi floated the tender, and now D.K. Shivakumar has secured it,' Ashoka remarked.
BJP's Broader Political Messaging
Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, echoed Ashoka's line, saying the BJP has consistently worked to empower working-class communities and ensure their political representation. The event underscored the BJP's strategy of targeting the Congress-led Karnataka government on immigration, electoral integrity, and governance ahead of future electoral cycles.
The Congress government in Karnataka is yet to formally respond to Ashoka's specific allegations regarding electoral rolls and residency certificates.
Point of View
Electoral integrity, and governance failure into a single attack ahead of Karnataka's next electoral cycle. The allegations regarding permanent residence certificates and electoral roll manipulation are serious and warrant scrutiny, but they remain unverified claims made at a party event, not findings of any official inquiry. The BJP's simultaneous promotion of the SIR process signals a dual strategy: paint the Congress as anti-national on immigration while positioning itself as the guardian of electoral purity. What is missing from the discourse is any official response from the Karnataka government or the Election Commission clarifying the status of the SIR and any complaints received — the absence of which allows the allegations to go unchallenged in the public domain.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Karnataka LoP R. Ashoka allege about Bangladeshi immigrants?
Ashoka alleged that the Congress-led Karnataka government was treating illegal Bangladeshi immigrants as a vote bank and was allegedly issuing permanent residence certificates to include them in the state's electoral rolls. He made these claims at a BJP event in Mysuru on 11 July.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an ongoing exercise to update and clean up electoral rolls, ensuring only eligible citizens are registered as voters. Ashoka urged Karnataka citizens to participate and alleged that a counter-campaign was working to undermine the process.
What did Ashoka say about Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar?
Ashoka called Shivakumar a 'mask Chief Minister', accusing him of misleading the people of Karnataka. He also targeted Shivakumar over government tenders, alleging that the CM had floated tenders worth several years' work in a short time in office.
Why did Ashoka mention Mamata Banerjee in his speech?
Ashoka cited former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as an example of a non-BJP leader allegedly extending government benefits to Bangladeshi immigrants, drawing a parallel with what he claimed the Karnataka government was doing.
Has the Karnataka Congress government responded to these allegations?
The Congress government in Karnataka had not issued a formal public response to Ashoka's specific allegations regarding electoral rolls, permanent residence certificates, or vote bank politics at the time of this report.
