Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former National General Secretary C.T. Ravi on Tuesday, 4 August launched a sharp attack on the Congress government in Karnataka, alleging that the newly expanded state Cabinet did not include a single woman minister — a contradiction, he argued, with the party's own women-empowerment messaging at the national level.

Priyanka Gandhi's Slogan Turned Against Congress

Addressing reporters in Bengaluru, Ravi invoked Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's campaign slogan 'Main Ladki Hoon, Main Lad Sakti Hoon' to press home his charge. “Priyanka Gandhi Vadra delivered long speeches under the slogan 'Main Ladki Hoon, Main Lad Sakti Hoon'. But where are the women in your own Congress Cabinet?” he said, alleging that the party had failed to provide adequate representation to women despite projecting itself as a champion of women's rights. Ravi called the omission a ‘constitutional impropriety’ and demanded a public apology from the party.

B. Nagendra Re-Induction and the Valmiki Corporation Scam

Ravi also targeted the decision to re-induct B. Nagendra into the Karnataka Cabinet, pointing to pending charges against him in the alleged Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation scam. He noted that chargesheets have been filed against Nagendra and that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had registered a separate case, seizing cash, jewellery, and other assets in the course of its investigation.

Ravi further alleged that former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had acknowledged on the floor of the Assembly that ₹89 crore had been misappropriated, while contesting the figure of ₹187 crore cited in other accounts. The BJP leader alleged that by inducting a charge-sheeted leader, the Congress had “effectively endorsed corruption.”

He additionally claimed that funds from the Valmiki Development Corporation had been diverted toward the Telangana Assembly elections and the Lok Sabha elections — reiterating allegations his party has previously made. Ravi also alleged that the Congress may have acted under political pressure or blackmail in deciding to reinstate Nagendra.

Other Ministers Under the Scanner

Ravi broadened his criticism to cover several other newly inducted ministers, alleging that individuals facing controversies had been rewarded with Cabinet berths. He singled out Minister K.M. Shivalingegowda, alleging the legislator had revealed his “true character” through remarks made in the Assembly. He also alleged that another minister had damaged the education sector, and that those linked to alleged irregularities in the Labour Department's workers' kit distribution scheme and the proposed Bidadi Township project had also been given ministerial positions.

Intra-Congress Tensions in the Spotlight

Ravi also referred to reported incidents of Congress workers performing rituals before posters of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in Bengaluru, describing it as “just the beginning.” “We will wait and watch what happens next,” he said, hinting at possible further political developments within the ruling party. This comes amid broader speculation about factional tensions within the Karnataka Congress between the camps of Shivakumar and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The BJP's broadside signals it intends to keep the pressure on the ruling coalition as the Cabinet reshuffle controversy unfolds.