Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Friday, 6 November 2026, launched a sharp attack on the Congress government in Karnataka, accusing it of engaging with the Centre 'in name only' over drought relief and failing to make genuine efforts to protect the interests of the state's farmers.

The Drought Relief Charge

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the 71st Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations at the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) factory premises in Vijayanagar, Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy alleged that neither Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar nor Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara had personally met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, or other concerned Union ministers to press Karnataka's case for drought compensation.

According to Kumaraswamy, the state government had spent the last two months simply writing letters to the Centre. He noted that the government's demand for drought relief had escalated from an initial ₹3,000 crore to ₹26,000 crore, yet no minister had made the effort to personally convince the Prime Minister or the Home Minister of the state's requirements. He also criticised the government's proposal to send an all-party delegation to Delhi, calling it a move made without any genuine prior attempt at persuasion.

Invoking His Own Tenure

Kumaraswamy drew a pointed contrast with his own record as Chief Minister, saying he had waived farmers' loans worth ₹25,000 crore using the state's own tax revenue, without waiting for Central assistance. He also recalled personally approaching the President of India to secure approval for the Debt Relief Act, adding that the current Deputy Chief Minister was part of his government at the time.

Guarantees, Bus Fares, and Nandini Milk

Targeting the Congress government's guarantee schemes, Kumaraswamy alleged that citizens were being financially burdened to cover the fiscal losses arising from their implementation. He questioned the decision to raise bus fares by 33 to 40 per cent even after extending free travel to women under the Shakti scheme. On the ₹8 per litre hike in milk prices, he said he would welcome the move only if the additional revenue went directly to farmers, warning that steep price increases could hurt sales of Nandini milk and open the market to private dairies.

Sharp Exchange With Priyank Kharge

Kumaraswamy also responded to remarks attributed to Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge, who reportedly described him as a 'village fool and an unintelligent person.' Kumaraswamy turned the taunt on its head, saying he was 'indeed a fool' because he had waived ₹25,000 crore in farmers' loans. 'If I had been as intelligent as them, I would have spent that ₹25,000 crore on roads and other development works and collected 30 to 40 per cent commission,' he remarked in an apparent dig at the Congress government.

He challenged Kharge to substantiate his allegations, asserting he had not been involved in any real estate dealings either in politics or during his tenure as Chief Minister, and noting that he had purchased 45 acres of land near Bidadi before entering politics, during his association with the film industry. He also accused those targeting him of misusing government land — allegedly appropriated in the name of developing an aerospace park and constructing a memorial in Kalaburagi — through Siddhartha Trust.

As Karnataka heads deeper into drought season, the political blame-game over relief funds is set to intensify ahead of the next legislative session.