Is Congress Plotting to Remove Siddaramaiah?

Bengaluru, July 7 (NationPress) The Karnataka BJP asserted on Monday that the Congress is orchestrating a scheme to undermine Chief Minister Siddaramaiah amid recent shifts within the governing party.

Karnataka Legislative Council Opposition Leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy remarked that, similar to how the Congress high command created a "political pit" for President Mallikarjun Kharge, it is now attempting to do the same for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Narayanaswamy claimed that the Congress High Command is employing various political maneuvers to oust Siddaramaiah from his Chief Ministerial position.

He sarcastically stated that the party had previously dug a pit for Mallikarjun Kharge, brought him to Delhi, and marginalized him by granting him only a titular role as president.

“Despite Kharge holding the title of AICC president, he often references a different high command when he speaks. Now, they’ve set a trap for CM Siddaramaiah. It appears Siddaramaiah has grasped the AICC's strategy,” he added.

In addition, Narayanaswamy reiterated his prior assertion that the Congress government in Karnataka is anti-Dalit and is systematically harming the Dalit community.

He called for the government to publish a white paper detailing the justice it has provided to officials throughout its time in power.

He also accused the government of misappropriating funds designated for Dalit welfare—specifically SCP (Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan) and TSP (Tribal Sub-Plan) funds—by utilizing them for loan guarantees, which denies Dalits their legitimate entitlements.

In response to a question about CM's Economic Advisor Basavaraj Rayareddy’s statement, “Do you want roads or guarantees?”, Narayanaswamy said: “Rayareddy effectively speaks for the Chief Minister. He is a financial expert, an advisor to the CM, and represents both the Congress party and the government's perspective. The underlying message is: ‘We’ve provided guarantees, so no one should question us.’”

He accused both the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of using Rayareddy to indirectly convey what they cannot articulate themselves.

Narayanaswamy demanded a response from the leaders who frequently present themselves on television as defenders of Dalit issues. He reminded that B.R. Ambedkar once stated that the Congress was akin to a burning house for Dalits and urged them to leave the party.

“This undoubtedly confirms that the Congress party is anti-Dalit,” he concluded.

Even as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has denied being designated by Congress as Chairperson of the party's National OBC Advisory Committee, the BJP has interpreted this as a maneuver to remove him from his position.