CM Chair Tussle
BENGALURU
Amid the ongoing tussle for the Chief Minister’s chair, the government has completely ignored farmers’ problems, said Opposition Leader R. Ashoka on Tuesday.
R. Ashoka claimed that political instability has pushed farmers’ issues to the background, despite mounting distress across the state. Addressing reporters in Bengaluru, he said Karnataka’s water has flowed out without repairs to the Tungabhadra reservoir, the maize procurement process has not started, and milk incentives remain pending. These failures, he alleged, highlight the government’s “anti-farmer attitude.”
The BJP Farmers’ Front will stage statewide protests highlighting these concerns. Demonstrations will be held across all assembly constituencies on November 27 and 28, followed by district-level protests on December 1 and 2.
Ashoka accused the government of being consumed entirely by a six-month-long power struggle. “Nobody knows who the Chief Minister is. Ministers are busy purchasing MLAs instead of listening to farmers,” he alleged. He pointed to media reports that earlier spoke of 10–12 MLAs supporting Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, which suddenly increased to 70. “This clearly shows MLA-buying. They have taken signatures even from MLAs in jail,” he added.
The Congress government, he said, has failed to release compensation for crop losses, despite the Centre already providing its share. During the BJP’s tenure, he claimed, compensation was given “three times more” and without delay.
Commenting on the political turbulence within the Congress, Ashoka said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appears shaken. “The man who once said he would be CM for five years now says he will listen to the high command,” he remarked.
He further criticized Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, saying he holds the post “only in name” and lacks real authority.
With the government weakened after the Bihar election results, Ashoka said the BJP expects Karnataka to head for a fresh mandate — one in which he is confident the party will secure a clear majority.
