Bommai accuses Karnataka CM Shivakumar of hiding fiscal failure behind previous govt
Synopsis
Former Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai has called out Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's attempt to blame the previous BJP government for the state's fiscal stress — pointing to a Finance Department warning of no headroom for new programmes, claimed borrowings nearly doubling to ₹1.20 lakh crore, and three consecutive deficit budgets as evidence of a Congress-era financial failure.
Key Takeaways
Basavaraj Bommai accused CM D.K.
Shivakumar of using the previous government as a shield to deflect from Congress's own fiscal mismanagement in Karnataka .
A Finance Department note warned that high revenue expenditure had left no room for new programmes — cited by Bommai as proof of 'financial distress.' Bommai claimed state borrowings had risen from approximately ₹65,000 crore under his tenure to around ₹1.20 lakh crore under the present Congress government.
He alleged the Congress government has presented three consecutive deficit budgets , compared to a surplus budget under his administration.
Bommai attributed the BJP-era fiscal constraints to the Covid-19 pandemic , arguing today's stronger economic environment makes the comparison invalid.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday, 25 September 2026, accused Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of deflecting scrutiny over his government's financial mismanagement by blaming the previous BJP-led administration. Bommai said the Congress government's failure to demonstrate political will to address Karnataka's fiscal difficulties was 'unfortunate for Karnataka.'
The Finance Department Note at the Centre of the Row
The dispute was triggered by a Finance Department note — cited by Shivakumar in the Karnataka Assembly on Thursday — warning that high revenue expenditure had left little room for launching new programmes. Bommai, posting on X, said the note itself exposed the 'financial distress' of the present government rather than serving as the defence Shivakumar intended.
Bommai alleged that Shivakumar had used the note to argue that similar advisories were issued during the tenures of former Chief Ministers B.S. Yediyurappa and Bommai himself — a comparison Bommai rejected as 'inappropriate.'
Bommai's Covid Defence
'During our tenure, Covid-19 waves were at their peak, and economic activity had come to a standstill. There was a compulsion to maintain financial discipline,' Bommai said. He contended that the circumstances during the Yediyurappa-Bommai era were materially different from today's environment, noting that the national economy is currently witnessing strong growth under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and that Karnataka's own revenues have risen.
Borrowing and Budget Figures
Bommai claimed the state's borrowing had nearly doubled under the Congress government: from approximately ₹65,000 crore during his tenure to around ₹1.20 lakh crore at present, according to his assertion. He also alleged that while his government had presented a surplus budget, the Congress administration had presented three consecutive deficit budgets since taking office.
He said the Finance Department's warning that high revenue expenditure was leaving no room for new programmes was clear evidence that the state exchequer was under severe pressure and that fiscal management had failed.
Opposition's Call for Corrective Action
Bommai urged the Shivakumar-led government to acknowledge its financial difficulties openly and take 'stringent corrective measures' rather than seeking cover behind historical precedents. 'There is no political will to take the necessary corrective measures. This is unfortunate for Karnataka,' he said. The Congress government is yet to formally respond to Bommai's specific claims on borrowing figures and deficit budgets.
The exchange marks a sharpening of the fiscal debate in Karnataka ahead of upcoming budget deliberations, with the BJP likely to press these numbers in both the legislature and the public arena.
Point of View
And Shivakumar's decision to cite it in the Assembly has now handed the opposition a ready weapon. The Covid defence holds logical weight for the 2020-22 period, but it does not explain why Karnataka's borrowings have reportedly doubled in a revenue-buoyant environment. The real test for both sides is whether independent auditors or the Comptroller and Auditor General's upcoming reports validate the borrowing and deficit figures being traded — until then, this is a contest of competing claims dressed as fiscal debate.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Basavaraj Bommai accuse CM Shivakumar of?
Bommai accused Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of shielding the Congress government's financial mismanagement by blaming the previous BJP administration. He said the Congress lacked the political will to take corrective fiscal measures, which he called 'unfortunate for Karnataka.'
What is the Karnataka Finance Department note about?
The Finance Department note, cited by Shivakumar in the Karnataka Assembly on Thursday, warned that high revenue expenditure had left little scope for introducing new programmes. Bommai argued the note was evidence of the present government's financial distress, not a defence.
How does Bommai compare borrowings under his tenure with the current government?
Bommai claimed state borrowings stood at approximately ₹65,000 crore during his tenure and have since risen to around ₹1.20 lakh crore under the Congress government — figures that the Congress has not yet formally disputed or confirmed.
Why does Bommai say comparing his tenure with the current government is unfair?
Bommai argues the fiscal stress during his and Yediyurappa's time was driven by the Covid-19 pandemic, when economic activity had come to a standstill. He says today's stronger national growth environment makes the comparison invalid.
What corrective steps is the BJP demanding from the Karnataka government?
Bommai has urged the Shivakumar-led government to openly acknowledge its financial difficulties and take stringent corrective measures to improve fiscal management, rather than deflecting blame onto the previous administration.
