‘Rubber stamp CM’: K’taka BJP criticises Cong over delay in portfolio allocation

Bengaluru, Aug 6 (IANS) Karnataka Unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday criticised the Congress government over the delay in allocating portfolios to the newly inducted ministers, alleging that the state administration was functioning under the control of the party high command in New Delhi.

Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, in a statement, said three days have passed since the swearing-in ceremony of the new ministers, but the government was yet to assign them portfolios.

Questioning the delay, the senior BJP leader took a swipe at Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, asking whether he was waiting for approval from the Congress high command to distribute portfolios or whether the process had been delayed because the “decided payment” had not yet been credited to the “account”.

Ashoka also targeted AICC General Secretary and Karnataka In-Charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, alleging that he was busy visiting the residences of disgruntled MLAs to pacify them and carrying out “patchwork” to prevent the government from collapsing.

He further questioned whether Surjewala would now have to visit Bengaluru to clear every government file and whether a room had been reserved for him at Vidhana Soudha. In another jibe, he asked whether all official files would now be sent to New Delhi by speed post for approval, referring to Shivakumar as a “rubber stamp Chief Minister”.

The BJP leader alleged that the Congress government was no longer functioning independently and was instead being operated through a “remote control” by the party’s high command in Delhi.

Ashoka claimed that the people of Karnataka have begun to realise that the “real government” was being run from New Delhi rather than Bengaluru and accused Congress of failing to provide effective governance in the state.

Following the cabinet expansion, the Karnataka Congress government is facing criticism on multiple fronts. The party is also facing internal rebellion.

A coalition of 30 women’s organisations and feminist groups under the banner of Naveddu Nilladiddare, Karnataka, on Wednesday wrote an open letter to Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, sharply criticising the exclusion of women from the newly expanded state Cabinet and demanding immediate corrective action by inducting women ministers.

On the other hand, the Congress leadership has intensified efforts to contain growing dissent triggered by the Karnataka Cabinet expansion, with CM Shivakumar and AICC Karnataka in-charge Surjewala personally reaching out to disgruntled legislators.

Following talks with a senior Congress leader, CM Shivakumar dismissed reports of dissidence within the ruling party after the recent Cabinet expansion. He asserted that the party remained united and that discussions with disappointed leaders were held in a positive atmosphere.

–IANS

mka/dpb