Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje on Tuesday, 12 June launched a pointed attack on Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge in Bengaluru, alleging that Kharge repeatedly targets the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to court media coverage rather than govern effectively. Karandlaje, who holds charge of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour and Employment, called on Kharge to account for his ministerial record instead.

The Core Charge

Speaking to reporters, Karandlaje alleged that Kharge — son of All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge — operates with impunity owing to his political lineage. “Priyank Kharge keeps speaking about the RSS every day to stay in the news and appear on television. Instead of criticising the RSS, he should explain what he has achieved as a minister,” she said.

She further claimed that Kharge’s earlier stint as Rural Development Minister yielded negligible results, and that his current tenure as Home Minister has been marked by inattention to the state’s deteriorating law-and-order situation.

Law and Order Concerns

Karandlaje alleged that Kharge had failed to adequately address the disappearance of women and men across Karnataka. “He spends his time commenting on the RSS instead of addressing pressing issues facing the state,” she claimed. She called on Kharge to bring the police department under control and prioritise governance over political commentary.

The Union Minister also accused Kharge of benefiting from dynastic politics while simultaneously projecting himself as a victim — a contradiction she argued undermined his credibility as a public official.

BJP Cross-Voting Row

On the question of alleged cross-voting by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators in the recent Legislative Council elections, Karandlaje said the party had constituted a committee to examine the matter and had escalated it to senior leaders and the party high command. “Those who betray the party should not be forgiven. Two legislators have openly supported the Congress. If that is their position, they should leave the BJP,” she said.

Bidadi Township and Bengaluru Civic Failures

Responding to questions on the Bidadi Township project, Karandlaje argued that the proposal reflected misplaced priorities. She pointed to existing layouts — including Kempegowda Layout and Shivarama Karanth Layout — where basic infrastructure remained absent even after a decade, with many allottees yet to move in or construct houses.

“The government must first resolve these issues before proposing new township projects,” she said, adding that Bengaluru was grappling with persistent problems in electricity supply, water distribution, and garbage management. She alleged that the township push was driven by vested interests in the real estate sector rather than genuine urban need.

What Comes Next

The BJP’s internal committee on the cross-voting allegations is expected to submit its findings to the party high command shortly. On the civic front, pressure is likely to mount on the Karnataka Congress government to address Bengaluru’s infrastructure gaps before advancing new township proposals — a debate that cuts to the heart of the state’s urban governance credibility ahead of future electoral cycles.