Karnataka BJP accuses Congress of ethanol blending 'false propaganda' to hide price rise
Synopsis
Karnataka's Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka took aim at the Congress government on two fronts at once — accusing it of weaponising the ethanol blending debate to bury a price-rise scandal, while also raising the politically charged Hasanamba Temple chapel incident to paint Chief Minister Shivakumar as increasingly unpopular. The BJP's move to send petrol samples for testing signals an escalation beyond rhetoric.
Key Takeaways
Ashoka alleged the Karnataka Congress government was spreading 'false propaganda' on ethanol blending to divert attention from price rises, speaking at a protest in Bengaluru on 11 November .
Ashoka defended the Centre's 20 per cent ethanol blending mandate as a farmer-income measure, saying similar policies are in place in Himachal Pradesh , Telangana , and Kerala .
The BJP claimed to have collected fuel samples from petrol bunks allegedly linked to Congress leaders and sent them for independent testing.
Shivakumar was criticised over an alleged chappal-throwing incident at the Hasanamba Temple in Hassan , with Ashoka framing it as a sign of public fury over price hikes.
Ashoka also alleged financial mismanagement, Cauvery water release to Tamil Nadu despite an empty KRS reservoir , and losses in state transport corporations.
BJP predicted Congress would win fewer than 20 seats in the 2028 Karnataka Assembly elections .
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R. Ashoka on Wednesday, 11 November accused the state's Congress government of spreading false propaganda over ethanol blending in petrol, alleging the move was designed to deflect public anger over repeated price hikes and poor governance.
BJP Protest at Freedom Park
Ashoka made the remarks after participating in a BJP demonstration against the Karnataka government's price-hike measures at Freedom Park in Bengaluru. He specifically targeted Karnataka Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Rizwan Arshad, accusing him of making misleading statements on ethanol blending to shift focus away from public resentment over rising prices.
Asserting that ethanol blending was a Central government initiative aimed at boosting farmers' income and reducing dependence on conventional fuels, Ashoka noted that the Centre had mandated 20 per cent ethanol blending. 'The Congress leaders do not know ethanol blending. The price of ethanol is higher than petrol. Countries such as the United States and Italy are also using higher proportions of ethanol. The initiative was introduced with the intention of increasing farmers' income. Even such a measure is being opposed by the Karnataka government,' he alleged.
Fuel Samples Sent for Testing
Ashoka claimed ethanol blending was also being implemented in Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala, calling the Karnataka government's objections baseless. He added that the BJP had collected fuel samples from petrol bunks allegedly belonging to Congress leaders and sent them for independent testing — a pointed escalation in the political standoff.
Temple Incident and Shivakumar Criticism
The BJP leader also referenced an alleged incident in which chappals were reportedly thrown at screens during Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's visit to the Hasanamba Temple in Hassan. Ashoka described the episode as a public expression of anger over price rises. 'People are asking whether D.K. Shivakumar has done any good work after coming to power. When he visited the Hasanamba temple recently, people questioned him about price increases and expressed their anger in front of Congress leaders. Even God is not blessing him now,' he said.
Cauvery Water, Transport and Financial Distress Allegations
Ashoka broadened his attack to include the alleged release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu even as the KRS reservoir was reportedly empty, and claimed the government had cited a shortage of funds even to purchase diesel. He alleged that the state's transport corporations — which he said had received national awards and were profitable during his own tenure as Transport Minister — had since been pushed into losses.
Further allegations included corruption demands by ministers and officials for government work, and criticism of hikes in milk, curd, and ghee prices, with Ashoka questioning how much of the additional revenue would actually reach dairy farmers.
Electoral Warning for 2028
Ashoka declared that the BJP would continue its agitation against price rises and predicted a severe electoral reckoning for the Congress in the 2028 Karnataka Assembly elections, claiming the party would fail to win even 20 seats. The Congress-led state government has not yet issued a formal response to Wednesday's allegations.
Point of View
The BJP is clearly working to establish a 'governance failure' narrative early, but the party will need to convert protest energy into credible policy alternatives to make the charge stick.
NationPress
11 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Karnataka BJP protesting over ethanol blending?
The BJP alleges that the Karnataka Congress government is raising the ethanol blending issue as a distraction from public anger over rising prices of essential commodities. BJP leader R. Ashoka argues that ethanol blending is a Central government initiative to benefit farmers and reduce fossil fuel dependence, and that the state's objections are politically motivated.
What is the Centre's ethanol blending mandate?
The Central government has mandated 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol across India, with the stated goals of boosting farmers' income and reducing dependence on conventional fuels. R. Ashoka noted that countries such as the United States and Italy also use higher proportions of ethanol in their fuel mix.
What happened at the Hasanamba Temple involving CM Shivakumar?
BJP leader R. Ashoka alleged that chappals were thrown at screens during Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's visit to the Hasanamba Temple in Hassan, describing it as a public expression of anger over price hikes. The Congress government has not formally responded to this characterisation of the incident.
What action has the BJP taken regarding petrol quality?
The BJP said it collected fuel samples from petrol bunks allegedly owned or linked to Congress leaders and sent them for independent laboratory testing. Ashoka framed this as evidence of the party going beyond political allegations to verify its claims on the ground.
What did R. Ashoka predict for the 2028 Karnataka Assembly elections?
Ashoka predicted that the Congress would face a severe electoral setback in the 2028 Karnataka Assembly elections and would not win more than 20 seats. He said the BJP would sustain its agitation against price rises as part of its build-up to the next state polls.
