Is Surjewala's Visit a Strategy to Oust Karnataka CM?

Bengaluru, July 2 (NationPress) The BJP in Karnataka asserted on Wednesday that the visit by Congress National General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala is aimed at laying the groundwork to remove Chief Minister Siddaramaiah from office.

During a press briefing at the BJP state headquarters, Jagannath Bhavan in Bengaluru, BJP State President and MLA, B.Y. Vijayendra, accused Surjewala of coming to the state to orchestrate the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He noted that despite Surjewala's presence, there has been a lack of concern regarding the failures of this corrupt government.

Vijayendra claimed that Surjewala was engaging with legislators to gauge their opinions, suggesting that competition for the Chief Minister's position was heating up and warned of potential political horse-trading.

Referring to the statement made by Ramanagara Congress MLA Iqbal Ansari, who claimed that Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar has the backing of 100 MLAs and should be the next CM, Vijayendra pointed out that senior Congress MLAs like B.R. Patil and Raju Kage are also openly criticizing the Chief Minister.

He asserted, "The CM has lost the confidence of even his own party MLAs," and urged the Governor to take notice of the potential for horse-trading.

In response to the Chief Minister's assertion that 35–40 deaths in Hassan might have been linked to COVID vaccination, Vijayendra questioned, "Was the COVID vaccine administered only in Hassan? The vaccine was provided to millions across India and exported globally."

He called for a comprehensive investigation into the deaths in Hassan and condemned the CM's remarks as irresponsible.

Additionally, he urged the government to organize an emergency meeting to ensure sufficient medicine supplies at the taluk and district levels.

Commenting on Minister Priyank Kharge’s suggestion of a potential ban on the RSS, Vijayendra dismissed it as "a daydream of a pauper."

He mockingly stated that even Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyank’s father and the National President of the Congress party, does not believe the Congress will regain power.

He added that not even senior leaders like Rahul Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi believe in the Congress's chances of returning to power at the national level.

Vijayendra emphasized that the RSS is a nationalist organization, recalling that Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru welcomed the Sangh's contributions during the India-China war and permitted its participation in the Republic Day parade.

"Nehru and Indira Gandhi imposed a ban on the RSS, but it was later lifted. Calling for another ban indicates a lack of historical understanding," he remarked.

Vijayendra praised the Karnataka High Court’s decision to transfer the investigation into the Valmiki Tribal Development Corporation case to the CBI as a significant victory in the BJP's struggle.

"This is a landmark ruling. Bigger names will be implicated. The BJP welcomes this verdict," he asserted.

He also claimed that due to the BJP's persistent pressure, CM Siddaramaiah had to remove Minister B. Nagendra from the Cabinet.

“The CM is now desperate to reinstate him. The media is well aware that the CM himself is involved in the scam. Money could not have left the state without the Finance Department's approval,” he alleged.

Vijayendra described the state situation as deteriorating daily, with the administration in disarray and Congress MLAs engaged in a power struggle.

"The race for the CM’s position is becoming more intense. Consequently, no developmental initiatives are taking place, and the government is neglecting farmers' concerns," he criticized.