Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday, 6 June alleged that the state's finances are in 'distress' and demanded that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar release a white paper detailing the fiscal position inherited from the previous Siddaramaiah-led government. Bommai made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Shiggaon, Haveri district.

Contractor Bills and Corruption Allegations

At the centre of Bommai's attack is a backlog of pending contractor bills reportedly worth around ₹23,000 crore in North Karnataka. He alleged that the delay in clearing these dues has given rise to harassment and corruption involving officials, ministers, and legislators. Bommai questioned how the Shivakumar administration intends to resolve these liabilities and pressed the Chief Minister to publicly explain what his much-cited 'system' of governance actually delivers in practice.

Committed Expenditure Crowding Out Development

Bommai claimed that more than 90 per cent of the state's expenditure qualifies as 'committed expenditure' — covering salaries, pensions, debt repayment, and guarantee scheme obligations. Against a total budget of ₹4.5 lakh crore, he argued, the room left for capital investment and development works is negligible. He also alleged that the government lacks a coherent plan for fiscal consolidation, and called for the white paper to include a full accounting of borrowings, their end-use, and outstanding liabilities.

Agriculture and Water Resources Under Fire

Bommai accused the government of sidelining farmers' concerns, noting that a recent Cabinet meeting reportedly failed to address seed and fertiliser supply — an issue he described as acute in several districts. He alleged that traders are hoarding agricultural inputs and selling them at inflated prices, and urged the government to intervene with supply-side measures. On the Water Resources portfolio, Bommai claimed that Minister Ramalinga Reddy is reluctant to handle the department, calling this a poor signal for governance in a state where irrigation deficits — particularly in North Karnataka — remain unresolved.

Bommai Cites COVID-Era Fiscal Management

Defending his own record, Bommai pointed to his tenure during the COVID-19 period, arguing that his administration navigated financial stress through discipline, plugging revenue leakages, and curtailing non-essential expenditure. He contrasted this with what he described as the current government's absence of clear fiscal thinking.

BJP Leadership Speculation Dismissed

Responding to questions about internal churn in the BJP, Bommai flatly denied any discussion of changes to the Leader of Opposition or the state party president, calling such reports baseless. He said the party is currently focused on organisational restructuring at the divisional level, with an emphasis on social justice for Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes. All eyes now turn to whether Chief Minister Shivakumar responds to the white paper demand — and whether the contractor dues crisis escalates into a wider political confrontation ahead of local body elections.