Siddaramaiah has no real commitment to internal reservation: Karnataka BJP
Synopsis
Karnataka BJP's Govind Karjol has called out Siddaramaiah's reservation pledges as hollow — pointing to a 30-year-old internal reservation struggle that Siddaramaiah failed to resolve across two terms as Chief Minister. With the Valmiki Corporation case, ignored commission reports, and alleged internal party manoeuvring all on the table, the BJP is making a pointed case that Congress's backward-class politics is performance, not policy.
Key Takeaways
BJP leader Govind Karjol accused former CM Siddaramaiah of lacking genuine commitment to internal reservation on 28 August in Bengaluru .
Karjol questioned why Siddaramaiah failed to implement internal reservation during his two previous tenures as Chief Minister.
The internal reservation issue has a 30-year history in Karnataka, according to Karjol.
Karjol alleged that key reports — including the Kantharaj Commission , Jayaprakash Hegde , and Sadashiva Commission reports — were ignored by Siddaramaiah.
The BJP also demanded broader accountability in the Valmiki Corporation case, calling the resignation of former minister B.
Nagendra insufficient.
A Bill proposing 56 per cent reservation was passed during the Belagavi session but was reportedly never implemented.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol on Friday, 28 August launched a sharp attack on former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, alleging that the Congress Working Committee member sheds 'crocodile tears' for backward and disadvantaged communities only after losing power and has no genuine commitment to implementing internal reservation in Karnataka.
Key Allegations Against Siddaramaiah
Speaking to reporters at Jagannatha Bhavan, the BJP state headquarters in Bengaluru, Karjol pointed out that Siddaramaiah is now claiming he will speak to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to ensure the implementation of internal reservation after correcting alleged injustices in the existing system. Karjol questioned why Siddaramaiah had not acted on this during his two previous stints as Chief Minister.
'The internal reservation struggle has a 30-year history. Siddaramaiah is now saying that there has been injustice in internal reservation and that he will speak to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and get it implemented. But when he was Chief Minister twice earlier, why could he not implement it?' Karjol asked.
Karjol further alleged that Siddaramaiah received the Madhusudan Naik report a day before resigning and was fully aware of the state's financial position, having presented 18 budgets. He claimed Siddaramaiah knew the government lacked sufficient funds to implement the reservation, yet deliberately created confusion, allowed the matter to reach court, and encouraged street protests before stepping away from political pressure.
Criticism Over Reservation Bills and Reports
Karjol also criticised the previous Congress government for passing a Bill proposing 56 per cent reservation during the Belagavi session and forwarding it to the Governor, but failing to secure its actual implementation. He alleged that Siddaramaiah ignored several key commission reports — including the Kantharaj Commission report, the Jayaprakash Hegde report, and the Sadashiva Commission report — while attempting to use the Madhusudan Naik report as a political instrument. Reports associated with Nagamohan Das and Madhuswamy were also reportedly neither obtained nor implemented, according to Karjol.
'Creating confusion and building a vote bank is their only work,' Karjol alleged, questioning why Siddaramaiah had not followed the Supreme Court's directions despite frequently invoking the Constitution in public discourse. He claimed this amounted to injustice to Justice A.J. Sadashiva, Nagamohan Das, and several communities.
Internal Party Dynamics and Political Rivalry Claims
Karjol also accused Siddaramaiah of attempting to mislead people by claiming credit for making G. Parameshwara Deputy Chief Minister. He alleged that Siddaramaiah had shown little concern for Parameshwara during his earlier tenure and that Parameshwara was sidelined because Siddaramaiah viewed him as a potential rival for the Chief Minister's post. Karjol further alleged that leaders including Satish Jarkiholi, M.B. Patil, and Zameer Ahmed were being treated unfairly within the party.
He accused Siddaramaiah of attempting to create unrest after losing power and alleged that he was working to prevent others from becoming Chief Minister while securing a political role for his son.
Valmiki Corporation Case
Reacting to the Valmiki Corporation controversy, Karjol said the resignation of former minister B. Nagendra alone was insufficient. He alleged that the entire state government should have resigned, arguing that the funds involved in the alleged irregularities were released from the state treasury and that the Chief Minister, as head of government, bore responsibility.
Legislative Council BJP Chief Whip N. Ravikumar, BJP state spokesperson H. Venkatesh Dodderi, retired IAS officer Lakshminarayana, and Belagavi Rural district president Subhash Patil were present at the press conference. The BJP's renewed offensive on reservation politics signals an intensifying battle for backward-class support ahead of future electoral contests in Karnataka.
Point of View
However, is the specificity: two terms, 18 budgets, and a Madhusudan Naik report received the day before resignation. If Siddaramaiah cannot answer that sequencing, the 'crocodile tears' charge will stick well beyond this press conference.
NationPress
28 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the internal reservation dispute in Karnataka?
Internal reservation refers to the sub-categorisation of quotas within the Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes to ensure more equitable distribution among sub-groups. The issue has been contested in Karnataka for approximately 30 years, with multiple commission reports — including the Sadashiva Commission — remaining unimplemented, according to BJP leader Govind Karjol.
Why is the BJP targeting Siddaramaiah on reservation now?
The BJP alleges that Siddaramaiah, despite serving as Chief Minister twice, failed to implement internal reservation and is now making promises only after losing power. Karjol pointed to Siddaramaiah receiving the Madhusudan Naik report a day before resigning as evidence of deliberate political evasion.
What is the Valmiki Corporation case mentioned by Govind Karjol?
The Valmiki Corporation case involves alleged financial irregularities in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. Former minister B. Nagendra resigned in connection with the case. Karjol alleged that since the funds came from the state treasury, the entire government — not just Nagendra — should have been held accountable.
Which commission reports did Karjol say were ignored by Siddaramaiah?
Karjol alleged that Siddaramaiah ignored the Kantharaj Commission report, the Jayaprakash Hegde report, and the Sadashiva Commission report. He also claimed that reports linked to Nagamohan Das and Madhuswamy were neither obtained nor implemented during Siddaramaiah's tenures.
What was the 56 per cent reservation Bill passed during the Belagavi session?
The previous Karnataka government passed a Bill during the Belagavi session proposing 56 per cent reservation and forwarded it to the Governor. However, according to Karjol, the Bill was never actually implemented — a point he used to argue that the Congress government's reservation commitments were symbolic rather than substantive.
