Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday, 22 June levelled serious allegations against the Congress government in Karnataka, claiming the ruling party is diverting the state's resources to fund election campaigns across the country. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy also alleged that ministerial positions in the upcoming Karnataka Cabinet expansion are being auctioned through a so-called 'payment quota' system.

The 'Payment Quota' Allegation

Kumaraswamy claimed that aspirants seeking ministerial berths under Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar are being made to pay for their positions. He alleged that 95 per cent of Cabinet seats have been reserved under a 'payment quota', while only 5 per cent fall under a 'management quota'.

'There is information that D.K. Shivakumar is extracting money from MLAs on the pretext that it has to be paid to the High Command,' Kumaraswamy alleged. He drew a sharp analogy with professional education: 'I have heard of government quota seats and management quota seats in professional education. But in Karnataka, a new system seems to have emerged for Cabinet induction — a High Command quota and a management quota. If one wishes to become a minister, one must apparently pay. Collections are allegedly being made without any restraint,' he said.

He added sarcastically that the prolonged delay in the Cabinet expansion was perhaps explained by the complexity of these alleged financial arrangements.

Karnataka Resources Allegedly Funding National Campaigns

Kumaraswamy further alleged that Chief Minister Shivakumar has publicly stated his intent to make Congress leader Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister, and that the state's finances are being channelled toward election campaigns in other parts of the country. The Union Minister did not provide documentary evidence for these claims, and the Congress government in Karnataka had not responded to the allegations at the time of reporting.

Cross-Voting Row and Legislative Council Elections

Addressing the recent cross-voting controversy in the Karnataka Legislative Council elections, Kumaraswamy described the episode as a 'closed chapter'. He acknowledged that one MLA from his party had drifted away but said the remaining 17 MLAs attended a legislative party meeting called after the incident.

'Anyone can be blackmailed or lured, and they are experts in wooing people. Cross-voting is not new. In Jharkhand, a Congress MLA cross-voted,' he said. He urged his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) allies not to be alarmed, noting that the current Chief Minister had reportedly assured development funds of ₹50 crore to ₹100 crore to MLAs as an incentive.

'There is an election in two years. Let us leave the matter here and plan for overthrowing this Congress government in 2028,' Kumaraswamy stated.

Bidadi Project and Industrial Policy

On the Bidadi industrial project, Kumaraswamy said he had dropped the project during his tenure as Chief Minister and instead pursued a 'Compete with China' initiative aimed at establishing industrial clusters across Karnataka to boost manufacturing and employment. He stressed that he had never permitted townships or industries to be set up on irrigated or agriculture-dependent land.

What Comes Next

The allegations add political pressure on the Congress government ahead of the anticipated Cabinet reshuffle. With assembly elections in Karnataka still roughly two years away, the Janata Dal (Secular)–BJP alliance appears to be sharpening its attack on the ruling dispensation's internal functioning. Whether the Congress responds formally to the 'payment quota' charge will be closely watched.