Karnataka BJP: Congress govt anti-farmer, withholds ₹2,500 drought relief
Synopsis
Karnataka's Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka has levelled a double-barrelled charge: the Congress government has failed to transfer the ₹2,500 drought input subsidy announced in a special legislative session, and has not paid the state's PMFBY premium share — potentially blocking crop insurance payouts. The allegation gains edge from reports that Deputy CM G. Parameshwara himself is dissatisfied with the Finance Department's handling of the delay.
Key Takeaways
Ashoka , Karnataka Leader of Opposition, on 26 October accused the Congress government of failing to release ₹2,500 per farmer in drought relief, over a month after the announcement in a special legislative session.
The relief was committed before 224 elected representatives in the state legislature but has not been transferred to farmers' bank accounts, according to Ashoka.
Ashoka also alleged the state government had not paid Karnataka's share of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) premium, blocking eligible farmers from insurance compensation.
Deputy Chief Minister G.
Parameshwara had reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the state Finance Department over the delay, according to Ashoka.
The BJP has demanded immediate release of both the drought relief and the PMFBY premium share, warning of political consequences from farmers' anger.
Karnataka Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka on Monday, 26 October accused the state's Congress government of being anti-farmer, alleging it had failed to transfer an announced ₹2,500 one-time input subsidy per farmer — drought relief committed during a special legislative session — even a month after that session concluded. The charge puts fresh pressure on Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar as drought distress deepens across Karnataka.
The Core Allegation
Ashoka alleged that the Shivakumar-led government made a 'grand announcement' of drought relief before 224 elected representatives inside the state legislature, only to fail in executing even the modest transfer to farmers' bank accounts. He described the ₹2,500 figure itself as an insult to a farming community already battered by drought conditions.
Notably, Ashoka cited Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara as having reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the state Finance Department over the delay — raising the prospect of discontent within the ruling coalition itself. 'How can the public trust the government when even its own Deputy Chief Minister and ministers are reportedly dissatisfied with its functioning?' Ashoka asked.
The PMFBY Charge
Ashoka compounded the drought relief accusation with a second allegation: that the Congress government had not paid Karnataka's share of the premium under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), the Centre's flagship crop insurance scheme, thereby blocking eligible farmers from receiving insurance compensation. 'On the one hand, you are misleading farmers by failing to provide even the meagre relief promised to them. On the other hand, you are cheating farmers by not paying the state government's share of the premium under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, preventing them from receiving insurance compensation,' he alleged.
PMFBY requires both the Centre and states to co-fund premium subsidies. If a state defaults on its share, farmers enrolled under the scheme can lose access to payouts — a direct financial blow during a drought year.
Political Sting in the Tail
Ashoka framed his attack in pointed terms: 'Does a government that cannot release even the money announced before 224 elected representatives inside the temple of democracy have any moral right to continue in power?' he asked. He demanded immediate release of the drought relief funds and Karnataka's PMFBY premium share, warning that the Congress government would face electoral consequences from farmers' anger if it failed to act.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has increasingly focused on the fiscal credibility of the Congress government's flagship guarantees — the 'five guarantees' scheme that has dominated Karnataka politics since the party's May 2023 election win. Critics argue the fiscal cost of those schemes has constrained the state's ability to fund emergency relief.
Context: Drought Distress in Karnataka
Karnataka declared drought in 195 talukas across multiple districts earlier this year, making it one of the worst-affected states in southern India this season. The special legislative session referenced by Ashoka was convened specifically to address the crisis, signalling its political salience. The Congress government has not publicly responded to Monday's allegations as of the time of reporting. The stand-off sets the stage for continued friction between the ruling party and the opposition as the state budget cycle approaches.
Point of View
500 figure is not generous by any standard — opposition leaders and farm groups have called it inadequate — yet even this floor appears to have not been delivered. If the PMFBY non-payment allegation is accurate, it represents a structural failure: state co-funding is not discretionary but a prerequisite for farmers to receive payouts from a scheme they are formally enrolled in. The reported dissatisfaction of Deputy CM Parameshwara with his own Finance Department, if confirmed, would suggest the dysfunction is internal rather than merely a BJP framing. Karnataka's 'five guarantees' model has drawn national attention as a template; fiscal squeeze at the relief level would test that narrative precisely when it matters most.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What drought relief did the Karnataka government announce for farmers?
The Karnataka government announced a one-time input subsidy of ₹2,500 per farmer as drought relief during a special session of the state legislature. According to opposition leader R. Ashoka, the amount has not been transferred to farmers' bank accounts even a month after the announcement.
What is the BJP's allegation against the Karnataka government regarding PMFBY?
BJP's R. Ashoka alleged that the Karnataka government has not paid the state's mandatory share of the premium under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Under the scheme, both the Centre and states co-fund premium subsidies, and a state default can prevent enrolled farmers from receiving insurance compensation.
Who is R. Ashoka and why is he raising these allegations?
R. Ashoka is the Karnataka Leader of Opposition and a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader. He has been targeting the Congress government over what he characterises as a failure to honour public commitments made to drought-affected farmers.
Has the Karnataka government responded to these charges?
The Congress government had not publicly responded to Ashoka's allegations as of the time of reporting on 26 October. The charges were made in a formal statement by Ashoka targeting Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and the state administration.
What is the broader context of Karnataka's drought situation?
Karnataka declared drought in 195 talukas across multiple districts this year, making it one of the most severely affected states in southern India this season. The state legislature convened a special session specifically to address the crisis, reflecting its political and economic urgency.
