Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Karnataka State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Tuesday, 29 September launched a sharp attack on the ruling Congress government in Bengaluru, accusing its leaders of undermining public confidence in constitutional institutions like the Election Commission of India (ECI) and failing drought-hit farmers across the state.

Attack on Congress Over Election Commission Remarks

Addressing a press conference at the BJP state office in Bengaluru, Vijayendra said that questioning constitutional bodies after electoral losses was damaging to democratic norms. 'Making statements that create distrust among the public against constitutional institutions such as the Election Commission is not right. Victory and defeat are natural in elections. But blaming constitutional institutions after a defeat is not appropriate for democracy,' he said.

Vijayendra specifically called out Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, warning that such rhetoric would not translate into electoral gains at the national level. 'Congress leaders and Mallikarjun Kharge should not make statements that bring a black mark on constitutional institutions. If they believe they can come to power at the Centre through such propaganda, that is far from reality,' he said.

He also pointed out that when the sons of Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai lost elections, no similar allegations were raised against the ECI — a contradiction, he argued, that exposes the selective nature of the Congress critique.

Drought Relief: BJP Demands ₹50,000 Per Acre Compensation

Vijayendra turned his attention to Karnataka's severe drought crisis, alleging that the state government had grossly under-compensated affected farmers. The BJP, he said, had demanded in both Houses of the legislature that farmers receive at least ₹50,000 per acre in compensation. The government, he alleged, had disbursed only ₹2,500 per farmer — a figure he described as wholly inadequate.

'The government should provide at least ₹50,000 per acre as compensation. If it cannot provide compensation because the state's financial condition has deteriorated, it should openly admit it,' Vijayendra said. He further demanded at least five hours of three-phase electricity daily for farmers and called on the government to procure power from other states if needed.

Financial Accountability and the White Paper Demand

Vijayendra demanded that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar release a white paper on Karnataka's finances, citing what he described as a damning internal communication from the Finance Department that raised serious questions about the state's fiscal position. He alleged that the Congress government was struggling to sustain its guarantee schemes and that beneficiaries of social security programmes — including pensions for senior citizens and persons with disabilities — were facing delays in receiving funds.

He also alleged that housing schemes for the poor were being deprioritised while funds were being channelled through guarantee implementation committees staffed by political workers. 'The government should immediately stop using taxpayers' money for political workers. The government is accountable for taxpayers' money,' he said. Vijayendra also sought clarification on a video conference reportedly held by Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, which he said raised questions about the selection of scheme beneficiaries.

Padayatra Challenge and Shikaripura Politics

Responding to Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president B.K. Hariprasad's announcement of a padayatra from Shikaripura, Vijayendra said he welcomed the move while suggesting Hariprasad had drawn inspiration from the BJP's own Ballari Chalo padayatra. Shikaripura, he noted, is the constituency associated with the political legacy of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and where his own political career began. He challenged Hariprasad to compare Shikaripura's development with the constituencies of Chief Minister Shivakumar and other Congress leaders.

Party Outreach and Upcoming Programmes

Vijayendra announced that the BJP would launch 'Seva Sankalpa' programmes from 1 October to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 25 years of public service. He said he would personally tour several districts as part of the initiative. The party, he added, would simultaneously work to strengthen its organisation from the booth level in preparation for upcoming local body elections. With Karnataka's political temperature rising on multiple fronts — drought relief, state finances, and electoral credibility — the next few weeks are likely to see intensifying pressure on the Shivakumar administration.