The Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday, 18 May launched a sharp attack on the ruling Indian National Congress government in the state, accusing it of organising a self-congratulatory convention in Tumakuru on 19 May — to mark three years in office — even as farmers across Karnataka reportedly grapple with widespread crop losses, financial distress, and a surge in suicides.

BJP's Core Allegations

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka alleged that the Congress government was celebrating its achievements 'over the graves of farmers' at a time when cultivators were suffering due to crop destruction caused by natural calamities. 'The Congress government's guarantees have now turned into guarantees of farmer suicides, guarantees of no crop compensation, guarantees of water scarcity, and guarantees of no three-phase electricity supply,' he charged.

Ashoka alleged that the state government had adopted an anti-farmer approach over its three years in power and had failed to deliver adequate budget allocations for agriculture despite commitments made in its election manifesto.

Crop Damage Across Districts

According to Ashoka, large-scale crop damage has been reported across multiple districts — including 1,235 hectares in Haveri, 832 hectares in Kolar, 324 hectares in Belagavi, and 100 hectares in Koppal — along with severe losses in Kalaburagi, Chitradurga, Bagalkote, Davanagere, Yadgir, and Shivamogga. Crops including grapes, bananas, watermelons, coconuts, mangoes, arecanuts, and tomatoes have been severely damaged, he said.

He further alleged that no government officials had visited the affected areas or initiated compensation procedures. 'Even compensation for banana crop losses caused by rains last year has not been provided. It has been over a year, yet the government has failed to respond,' Ashoka said.

Convention Spending Under Scrutiny

Ashoka accused the Congress government of misusing public funds for party conventions. He alleged that although the government had promised to earmark ₹5,000 crore for natural disaster relief, 'not even a single rupee' had been deposited for the purpose. Meanwhile, he claimed, ₹20 crore was spent on a convention in Ballari, and ₹12 crore had reportedly been sought from the district administration for the upcoming Tumakuru event.

'Neither the BJP nor the Janata Dal (Secular) flags are visible at these conventions. Yet government funds are being used,' he alleged. Taking a dig at the government's public outreach, Ashoka noted that ministers who had not visited distressed farmers were now going door-to-door distributing convention invitation cards.

Farmer Suicide Data and Agricultural Decline

Citing National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, Ashoka claimed that while farmer suicides had declined by 2.22 per cent nationally, Karnataka had witnessed a 22.61 per cent increase. He said farmer suicide cases in the state had risen from 2,423 in 2023 to 2,971 in 2024, making Karnataka the second-highest state in the country by this measure.

He also alleged that Karnataka's agricultural growth rate, which he claimed stood at 17 per cent under the previous BJP government, had fallen to 10.4 per cent under the Congress regime. Additionally, he said the government had failed to clear ₹700 crore in pending milk incentives and that seed prices had risen by nearly 60 per cent.

What the Government Said

Notably, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Monday confirmed that the state government would hold the 'Pragatiyatta Karnataka' programme in Tumakuru on 19 May to distribute beneficiary letters to 1,52,000 people and highlight the Congress government's achievements after completing three years in office. The government has not publicly responded to the specific financial allegations raised by the BJP.

With the Tumakuru convention set for Tuesday, the political battle over Karnataka's agrarian crisis is expected to intensify in the days ahead.