Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president B.Y. Vijayendra on Tuesday, 3 November, alleged that a sting operation targeting former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had laid bare an internal power struggle within the ruling Congress in Karnataka, and demanded the state government publicly disclose who commissioned the operation and whose interests it was designed to serve.

Sting Operation Under the Spotlight

Vijayendra pointed to reports of Siddaramaiah expressing dissatisfaction over recent developments, with Siddaramaiah's son also reportedly making statements on the matter. He noted that Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had convened a press conference and raised 'several serious questions' over the episode.

Vijayendra argued that the state's Home Minister and other Congress leaders should stop deflecting blame onto Kumaraswamy and instead answer the core questions: who conducted the sting, and what purpose it actually served. 'Instead of targeting Kumaraswamy for political reasons,' he said, the government owed citizens a clear explanation.

BJP Launches 'Save Democracy' Padayatra

Vijayendra's remarks came at a press conference ahead of the BJP's nationwide public awareness campaign, titled 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy', set to be launched in Kolar on the same day. BJP National General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Harish Dwivedi, former Chief Minister and BJP Parliamentary Board member B.S. Yediyurappa, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashoka, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, and other senior leaders were scheduled to participate in the padayatra.

Vijayendra said the campaign sought to defend the country's democratic system and the dignity of constitutional institutions. He alleged that Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, were 'continuously spreading misinformation' about constitutional institutions because they could not accept Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity. The Congress, he claimed, was attempting to create confusion and 'an atmosphere of anarchy' across the country after being rejected by voters.

KPSC Irregularities and Unemployment

Vijayendra also trained his fire on the Congress government's handling of youth unemployment, alleging that nearly 2.5 lakh government posts remained vacant in Karnataka. He said unemployed youth were actively protesting against alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment process.

He further alleged that the government had failed to effectively defend the reservation issue before the Karnataka High Court, leaving years of preparation by aspirants in limbo. 'The government itself has created a situation in which unemployed youth are forced to take to the streets,' he said.

Price Hikes Hit Consumers During Festive Season

Vijayendra criticised the Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar-led Congress government for burdening consumers with price hikes during Deepavali and Kannada Rajyotsava. He cited an increase in milk prices that, while announced as ₹8 per litre, had effectively translated into an additional burden of up to ₹12 per litre on consumers through various revisions.

While welcoming the decision to pass ₹7 from the revised price to milk producers, he argued that the government should have borne the financial burden of farmer incentives rather than transferring the entire cost to consumers. He also objected to an increase of around ₹14 per litre in curd prices, saying it added to the difficulties of ordinary families already contending with rising costs of essential commodities. A proposed bus fare hike was also flagged as adding to the festive-season burden.

Legislative Council Results and Bye-Elections Ahead

Vijayendra asserted that the outcomes of the recent Legislative Council elections had reflected public discontent with the Congress government. He expressed confidence that voters would deliver 'an appropriate response' to the Congress in the forthcoming bye-elections, including the contest in Hiriyur. Despite senior Congress leaders holding internal meetings and political consultations, he claimed, they would be unable to suppress growing public anger.

With the Hiriyur bye-election on the horizon and the KPSC controversy still unresolved, the BJP's multi-front political offensive is likely to intensify in the weeks ahead.