Karnataka BJP alleges Shivakumar leaked finance letter to blame Siddaramaiah
Synopsis
Karnataka BJP leader R. Ashoka has alleged that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar personally leaked a confidential Finance Department letter — warning of a fund shortage — to pin the state's fiscal troubles on former CM Siddaramaiah. With pending bills reportedly at ₹2 lakh crore and drought relief pegged at a fraction of NDRF norms, the BJP is sharpening its attack on Karnataka's Congress government on two fronts simultaneously.
Key Takeaways
Ashoka alleged on 25 September 2026 that CM D.K.
Shivakumar leaked a Finance Department advisory letter to blame former CM Siddaramaiah for the state's financial troubles.
Karnataka's pending government bills have reportedly reached ₹2 lakh crore , according to the Finance Department letter cited by Ashoka.
Drought-hit farmers were offered ₹2,500 per acre in relief, against an NDRF guideline rate of ₹8,000 per acre , the BJP alleged.
The Centre transferred ₹16,071 crore to Karnataka between 2015 and 2025 , plus ₹4,500 crore via SDRF , Ashoka claimed.
Ashoka criticised the proposed Bengaluru tunnel road project , arguing funds should go toward higher farmer compensation instead.
The BJP leader alleged Congress MLAs are unhappy with the government and warned of political consequences over the drought relief issue.
Karnataka Leader of the Opposition and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader R. Ashoka on Friday, 25 September 2026, alleged that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar personally leaked a confidential Finance Department advisory letter — reportedly warning of a fund shortage — in order to deflect blame for the state's financial condition onto former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Ashoka made the allegations at a press conference in Bengaluru, sharply escalating the intra-Congress rivalry playing out in public view.
The Finance Letter Allegation
Ashoka questioned the timing and manner of the letter's disclosure, arguing that such a document could not have entered the public domain without sanction from the top. 'Why has the Finance Department's advisory letter on fund shortage leaked now? To convey that Siddaramaiah cheated and emptied the treasury, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar himself leaked this letter,' he alleged. He added that 'either the Chief Minister or the Chief Secretary must have made it public,' pointing to the letter's restricted circulation as evidence that the leak was deliberate.
The BJP leader further claimed that pending government bills had reached ₹2 lakh crore, and accused the Congress administration of pushing Karnataka into a 'debt trap' while continuing to announce new expenditure despite the Finance Department's warning about limited borrowing capacity.
Drought Relief Controversy
Ashoka also trained his fire on the state government's drought relief package, accusing it of failing farmers. He said that during a special Assembly session on drought, farmers had expected either a significantly higher compensation or a loan waiver but were instead offered ₹2,500 per acre — a figure he called an insult to the farming community.
According to Ashoka, the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) guidelines prescribe compensation of ₹8,000 per acre, and he argued that no financial emergency short of a situation comparable to the COVID-19 pandemic or a war could justify disbursing a fraction of that entitlement. He claimed the Centre had transferred ₹16,071 crore to Karnataka between 2015 and 2025 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in addition to ₹4,500 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) — figures he contrasted with what he described as far lower transfers during the UPA era.
Tunnel Road Project in the Crosshairs
The BJP leader also criticised the state government's proposed tunnel road project in Bengaluru, arguing that the funds earmarked for the infrastructure scheme would be better deployed as higher drought compensation to distressed farmers across the state. The comment signals that the BJP intends to frame the government's urban infrastructure priorities as politically tone-deaf given the agrarian crisis.
Political Warning and Congress Discontent Claims
Ashoka alleged that Congress legislators themselves were dissatisfied with the Shivakumar administration and claimed there had been 'little achievement' in the government's first 100 days. He warned that the BJP would carry the drought relief issue directly to voters and predicted political consequences for the ruling party if adequate farmer compensation was not delivered. This comes amid an already fraught political climate in Karnataka, where the Shivakumar–Siddaramaiah leadership question has repeatedly surfaced in public.
The Congress government in Karnataka is yet to formally respond to Ashoka's specific allegations regarding the finance letter leak.
Point of View
It raises serious governance questions about confidentiality within the state secretariat; if it was a calculated disclosure, it suggests the chief minister is already playing a long game against his predecessor. Either reading is damaging for the Congress. The drought relief figure of ₹2,500 per acre against an NDRF norm of ₹8,000 is the more concrete vulnerability — it is a number the government will find hard to defend in a farm-dependent state heading toward local body elections.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Finance Department letter controversy in Karnataka?
Karnataka BJP leader R. Ashoka has alleged that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar deliberately leaked a confidential Finance Department advisory letter — warning of a fund shortage — to shift blame for the state's fiscal situation onto former CM Siddaramaiah. Ashoka claimed that a document of this nature could not have entered the public domain without the Chief Minister or Chief Secretary authorising its release.
How much are Karnataka's pending government bills, according to the BJP?
The BJP's R. Ashoka cited the Finance Department's own advisory letter to claim that pending bills in Karnataka have reached ₹2 lakh crore. He also alleged the state is being pushed into a 'debt trap' as new spending announcements continue despite warnings about limited borrowing capacity.
Why is the BJP criticising Karnataka's drought relief package?
The BJP argues that the ₹2,500 per acre compensation offered to drought-affected farmers during a special Assembly session is far below the NDRF guideline rate of ₹8,000 per acre. Ashoka called the lower figure an insult to farmers and demanded relief in line with or above the prescribed national norms.
How much central drought aid has Karnataka received under the Modi government, according to Ashoka?
Ashoka claimed the Centre released ₹16,071 crore to Karnataka between 2015 and 2025 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in addition to ₹4,500 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). He contrasted this with what he described as lower transfers during the UPA period.
What is the BJP's political strategy on this issue?
The BJP has warned it will take the drought relief and fiscal management issues directly to voters, predicting political consequences for the Congress government. Ashoka also alleged that Congress MLAs are internally dissatisfied and claimed there has been little governance achievement in the first 100 days of the Shivakumar administration.
