Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Monday, 12 October launched a sharp attack on the Congress, accusing the party of attempting to create 'anarchy' across the country and alleging it was 'frustrated' and 'conspiring' to generate confusion. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Vijayendra made a series of explosive claims, including that 25 Congress MLAs — among them members of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's Cabinet — were ready to cross over to the BJP if Assembly elections were held in Karnataka at any time.

Defection Claim and Electoral Predictions

Vijayendra asserted that a political atmosphere had developed in Karnataka that would prompt 25 sitting Congress legislators, including Cabinet ministers, to join the BJP. He claimed that voters had been misled in the last state election into giving Congress some of its seats, and predicted the party would be unable to replicate its earlier performance in future polls. He also forecast that the Congress would win fewer Lok Sabha seats next time than its previous tally of 50 to 60 seats, citing what he described as weak leadership under Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. These are contested claims, and the Congress has not yet formally responded.

Attack on INDIA Bloc's Supreme Court Outreach

Vijayendra criticised the INDIA Bloc's reported request for an appointment with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, calling it inappropriate. He argued that the Congress-led alliance was wrong to seek such a meeting when the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was already under consideration before the Supreme Court. He alleged this was part of a broader effort to create confusion around democratic institutions.

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka References

In a particularly pointed remark, Vijayendra alleged that Congress leaders had invoked youth-led unrest in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and suggested similar developments could occur in Karnataka. He said the people of India would not accept any such attempts. 'If the Congress has even a little self-respect and the courage to do so, let it work to win the confidence of the country's voters. Let it win the people's trust and come to power in the country and the state,' he said.

Sting Operation Row and 'Political Prostitution' Charge

Vijayendra turned his fire on what he described as a sting operation controversy engulfing the state's political class, alleging that some Congress leaders had commissioned sting operations to secure positions of power within the party and government. 'Every day, MLAs, ministers and former chief ministers are talking about sting operations. It is being said that sting operations were conducted to become ministers or chief ministers. Everything will come out in the coming days. This is political prostitution,' he said. He added that those involved in what he described as fraudulent activities would face consequences.

Drought Relief, Fiscal Concerns, and 'Real Estate Government' Charge

Switching to governance, Vijayendra accused the Shivakumar government of failing drought-hit farmers, alleging that a promised compensation of ₹2,500 had not been released. He contrasted this with former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa's tenure, during which, he claimed, ₹5 lakh was provided to those who lost homes and ₹10,000 for household utensils. He further alleged that Karnataka's finances had deteriorated to near-bankruptcy levels, that state transport buses were idling in depots because the government had failed to clear dues to oil companies, and that the government was misusing proposed ring road projects to advance real estate interests — labelling it a 'real estate government'. The state government has not issued an official response to these specific charges.

With Karnataka's political temperature rising over the sting operation row, drought relief failures, and fiscal pressures, Vijayendra's broadside signals that the BJP intends to keep the Congress on the defensive well ahead of the next electoral cycle.