Leader of the Opposition and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader R. Ashoka on Tuesday, 19 May launched a sharp attack on the Karnataka Congress government as it marked three years in office with a large-scale convention in Tumakuru, alleging corruption, financial mismanagement, and administrative failure across multiple departments.

MUDA Case and ED Action

Ashoka trained his sharpest criticism on the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam, in which Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is reportedly named as accused number one. He claimed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had attached properties worth nearly ₹100 crore, including assets allegedly linked to associates close to the Chief Minister.

Ashoka further alleged that the state government had drawn ₹3.16 crore from the public exchequer to pay legal fees aimed at blocking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter — a charge the government has not publicly addressed.

Debt Burden and Fiscal Concerns

The BJP leader alleged that Karnataka's total debt had crossed ₹8 lakh crore, with the 2025–26 budget proposing fresh borrowings of ₹1.50 lakh crore. He claimed this translated to a per-capita debt of over ₹1 lakh for every Kannadiga.

Ashoka also alleged that Electricity Supply Companies (ESCOMs) across the state were collectively burdened with debts of ₹42,750 crore, with Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) alone accounting for dues of ₹6,211 crore.

Procurement and Scam Allegations

The opposition leader alleged that the Public Works Department (PWD) had awarded road project tenders worth ₹10,000 crore in Hoskote and Malur to a company that is reportedly under CBI investigation — a charge he said undermined the government's claims of transparent governance.

He also referred to an alleged irregularity at the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) office in Ballari, claiming ₹16 crore had been illegally diverted through fake cheques and bank transactions. Ashoka placed this alongside earlier controversies — including the Valmiki Corporation case and the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) row — as part of what he described as a pattern of financial misconduct.

Hospital Tragedy and Governance Failures

Ashoka cited the 29 April wall collapse at the Bowring Hospital complex in Bengaluru, in which seven people — including three children — lost their lives. He alleged that the Lokayukta had attributed the incident to misgovernance, and accused the administration of neglecting public health infrastructure.

He further alleged that government hospitals were facing shortages of medicines, doctors, and diagnostic facilities, pushing economically vulnerable patients into hardship.

The Congress Convention in Tumakuru

The BJP's broadside came as the Congress government held its Sadhana Samavesha — a state-level convention in Tumakuru — to mark its third anniversary, with over 2 lakh people expected to attend. The event featured virtual inaugurations and the distribution of land title deeds to around 1.52 lakh beneficiaries.

Ashoka alleged that approximately 4,000 buses were deployed at public expense to ferry attendees, and questioned whether grand celebrations were appropriate given the state's fiscal condition. The Congress government officially completes three years in office on 20 May.

With the BJP sharpening its accountability narrative ahead of future electoral cycles, the ruling Congress is likely to face sustained pressure to respond to these allegations on each of the cited fronts.