Bommai: Gandhi family favour decides Cong CM picks in Karnataka
Synopsis
Former Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai has levelled a pointed allegation: that Congress picks its Chief Ministers not on merit but on proximity to the Gandhi family — and that the resulting power struggle in Karnataka has left ₹14,000 crore unspent and governance at a standstill.
Key Takeaways
BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai alleged on 3 May that Congress elevates CMs based on Gandhi family favour, calling it "shameful for democracy." He pointed to a contradiction: Siddaramaiah and D.K.
Shivakumar cite Kharge as part of the high command, while Kharge himself refers only to the Gandhis.
Bommai alleged ₹14,000 crore from Siddaramaiah's last budget and ₹10,000 crore from the previous year remained unspent.
He claimed Karnataka Congress infighting has brought governance to "a complete halt." Congress has not formally responded to the allegations; all figures are attributed to Bommai's claims.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday, 3 May alleged that in the Indian National Congress (Congress), those who win the confidence of the Gandhi family are elevated to the Chief Minister's post — calling it a matter of "shame for the democratic system." Bommai made the remarks while speaking to the media in Gadag, Karnataka.
Bommai's Core Allegation
Bommai accused Congress of operating as a "family-run party" and questioned who exactly constitutes its high command. He pointed to a contradiction within the party's own leadership: while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar describe the high command as comprising Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, Kharge himself reportedly refers only to Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi as the high command.
"Whoever wins the confidence of Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi becomes Chief Minister. This is a shameful situation for democracy," Bommai alleged. He further claimed that despite Congress leaders frequently speaking about democracy, they have "completely undermined internal democracy within their own party."
Infighting Over Power and Positions
Bommai said intense infighting has broken out among Congress leaders in Karnataka due to what he described as an excessive desire for power. "Cabinet ministers are trying to retain their positions. Some are demanding ministerial posts, citing that they have been elected three times, while newcomers are also seeking positions. The Chief Minister is making efforts to retain his chair," he said.
He also pointed to Kharge as a flashpoint, suggesting the veteran leader feels he deserves the Chief Minister's post on merit. "Mallikarjun Kharge is a very senior leader, and he feels he deserves the Chief Minister's post on merit. That is why he has expressed such sentiments," Bommai claimed. Notably, Kharge's reported remarks have fuelled speculation about leadership tensions within the Karnataka Congress.
Governance at a Standstill, Bommai Claims
Responding to questions about administrative effectiveness, Bommai alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka has failed the very voters who brought it to power. He claimed that around ₹14,000 crore allocated in Siddaramaiah's last budget remained unutilised, and that approximately ₹10,000 crore went unspent in the year prior to that.
"The Congress has betrayed the people who elected them. Once political infighting begins, the government comes to a standstill. No work is being done," Bommai alleged. He further argued that the divergence between the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister on key issues has paralysed the bureaucracy. "If the Chief Minister says one thing and the Deputy Chief Minister says another, how will officials function? From the people's perspective, this government has come to a complete halt," he said.
Political Context
The remarks come amid persistent reports of leadership friction within the Karnataka Congress, with speculation about a possible mid-term leadership change having surfaced periodically since the party's return to power. Congress has not yet formally responded to Bommai's allegations. The BJP, currently in opposition in Karnataka, has consistently targeted the ruling party over governance lapses and internal divisions. All figures cited by Bommai regarding unspent funds are attributed to his claims and have not been independently verified.
Point of View
As AICC President, is simultaneously described as high command by some and bypassed in favour of the Gandhis by others, it does expose a structural ambiguity in Congress's power architecture. The Karnataka leadership question has simmered for over a year; the fact that a senior BJP leader can cite Kharge's own reported sentiments as evidence of dynastic control suggests the Congress has allowed an internal wound to become a public liability. The unspent budget claims, if verified, would be the more damaging charge — governance paralysis is harder to spin than political rivalry.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Basavaraj Bommai allege about Congress CM selection?
Bommai alleged that in Congress, the Chief Minister is chosen based on who wins the confidence of the Gandhi family — specifically Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi — rather than on merit or democratic process. He called this a "shameful situation for democracy."
Why is there infighting in Karnataka Congress according to Bommai?
Bommai claimed that an excessive desire for power has triggered intense infighting, with cabinet ministers seeking to retain posts, three-term MLAs demanding ministerial positions, and the Chief Minister working to hold on to his chair. He also pointed to Kharge's reported belief that he deserves the CM post on merit.
What is the contradiction Bommai pointed out about the Congress high command?
Bommai noted that while Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar describe the high command as comprising Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Kharge, Kharge himself reportedly refers only to Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi as the high command — which Bommai used to argue the party is family-run.
How much budget money does Bommai claim went unspent in Karnataka?
Bommai claimed that around ₹14,000 crore allocated in Siddaramaiah's last budget remained unutilised, and that approximately ₹10,000 crore went unspent in the year before that. These figures are attributed solely to Bommai's claims and have not been independently verified.
Has Congress responded to Bommai's allegations?
As of the time of this report, Congress has not formally responded to Bommai's allegations about Gandhi family influence over CM selection or the claims regarding unspent budget funds in Karnataka.
