R. Ashoka, Leader of the Opposition and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, on Friday, 16 May alleged that the Congress was opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka because it feared losing the votes of what he described as 'Bangladeshi Muslim voters' illegally residing in the state. Ashoka made the allegations at a press conference in Bengaluru, issuing a direct challenge to anyone who could disprove his claims.

Key Allegations on Bangladeshi Nationals

Ashoka alleged that more than 10 lakh Bangladeshi nationals are currently living in Karnataka. He cited a recent instance where the Police Commissioner reportedly spent ₹65 lakh to deport 250 Bangladeshis by air as evidence of the scale of the issue.

'Thousands of Bangladeshis are living in Mahadevapura in Bengaluru, Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu coffee estates. The SIR exercise will put an end to this,' he said. He further alleged that the Congress government had issued identity cards to 10 lakh Bangladeshi residents and did not want them deported.

Ashoka maintained that legitimate voters had nothing to fear from the revision process, noting that agents of the Congress, BJP, and Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) would be present at every polling booth to prevent wrongful deletions.

Charges of Welfare Fund Mismanagement

Turning his attack on the Siddaramaiah-led state government, Ashoka alleged that subsidies and pensions for vulnerable sections — including orphans, senior citizens, and transgender minorities — had been suspended. He questioned the government's decision to hold 'Sadana Samavesha' achievement conventions to mark three years in office while, he claimed, the state treasury was empty.

According to Ashoka, ₹5,000 crore under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme and ₹700 crore under the Annabhagya scheme had not reached beneficiaries. He also alleged that ₹73 crore earmarked for orphan children had not been released and that ₹45,000 crore allocated for Scheduled Castes had been 'looted'.

He further claimed that 12 categories of pensions under the Revenue Department had not been disbursed for the past three months, affecting 81.88 lakh beneficiaries. Those affected, he alleged, included old-age pensioners, widows, acid attack victims, Devadasis, and freedom fighters.

Corruption and Civic Administration Charges

Ashoka accused the government of enabling corruption in Bengaluru's civic administration. He alleged that during Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's e-khata drive and the conversion of B-Khata to A-Khata, officials were collecting bribes through digital payment platforms including PhonePe. He claimed that even after raising the issue with evidence in the state Assembly, no action had been taken.

Price Hike Allegations and BJP's Promises

Ashoka criticised the Congress government for what he described as a series of price hikes: petrol prices raised by ₹3 in 2024 and ₹2 in 2025, Nandini milk prices up by ₹9, electricity tariffs raised by 56 paise, bus fares hiked by 15 per cent, and guideline values increased arbitrarily.

Defending Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ashoka argued that fuel prices in India had risen by only three per cent compared to steeper hikes in countries such as Malaysia, Pakistan, the UAE, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. He added that the BJP, if voted to power, would simplify property tax procedures and ease the A-Khata and B-Khata process for citizens.