Bengaluru
The Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, said on Tuesday that AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge seems to have “no real role” in the Congress party.
Speaking at the BJP state office in Bengaluru, he claimed that Kharge’s photos were missing during the Bihar election campaign, while posters featuring Rahul Gandhi were seen everywhere.
Narayanaswamy said Congress leaders in Karnataka behave as if Rahul Gandhi is still the party president. He added that the Congress high command appears weak and ignored. He also pointed out that Congress leaders talk about changing leadership in the state while also discussing a cabinet reshuffle, which he described as confusing.
He compared Karnataka to Gujarat, saying that in Gujarat, ministers resigned one day and a new cabinet was formed the next morning. In Karnataka, he said, the talk of cabinet reshuffle has dragged on for a year and become a major spectacle.
Narayanaswamy criticised Minister Priyank Kharge, calling him a leader who “often spreads false claims”. He said Priyank had earlier said he would not allow the RSS route march in Chittapur, but the march took place without any issue, proving him wrong.
Talking about recent security worries, Narayanaswamy said issues like bomb blasts should not be linked to caste or religion. He questioned who carried out the Parliament attack and the Pulwama attack. On the recent bomb threat to the Metro, he said it might be false or real, but such alerts are increasing in the state.
He added that the government acts quickly on social media posts but appears soft when it comes to major criminal activities. He urged the state to ensure strict punishment to prevent such incidents.