Eviction row: Is Cong leader Venugopal 'super CM' of K'taka, asks state BJP
Bengaluru (PTI): Accusing Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal of intervening in Karnataka's administration in light of an eviction row here, opposition BJP on Sunday asked whether he is "super CM" of the state.
Karnataka deserves respect, autonomy, and honest governance, and not high-command "theatrics", Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Assembly R Ashoka said.
"Karnataka is not a colony of Rahul Gandhi and his coterie."
He was responding to Venugopal's post on 'X' regarding the demolition of unauthorised constructions in Kogilu village.
Stating that he has spoken to CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar, Venugopal in the social media post on Saturday had said, he had conveyed "the AICC's serious concern that such actions should have been undertaken with far greater caution, sensitivity, and compassion, keeping the human impact at the centre."
"They have assured that they will personally engage with the affected families, put in place an appropriate mechanism for addressing grievances, and ensure rehabilitation and relief for those impacted," Venugopal added.
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Venugopal's statement came in the wake of Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan criticising the demolition drive as the "brutal normalisation of the bulldozer raj".
LoP Ashoka asked, "Who is K C Venugopal to intervene in the administration of Karnataka. Is he a Super CM, or does the Congress high command believe elected state governments function on Delhi diktats."
Karnataka is governed by a constitutionally elected chief minister and Cabinet, not by an AICC General Secretary, he said. Expressing a party opinion is one thing, but issuing moral sermons and pressure tactics on a state government is "blatant overreach" and an insult to federalism, the BJP leader added.
"What's more troubling is the rank hypocrisy. Has K C Venugopal ever shown the same urgency when medical and other waste from Kerala have been illegally dumped along Karnataka's borders, threatening Bandipur, forest regions, public health, and wildlife? Has he spoken up for Karnataka's environment, farmers, or border districts with the same concern and compassion," he asked.
"Silence there. Sermons here."
Stating that this selective outrage exposes the truth, Ashoka said this is not about humanity or sensitivity, it's about Congress high command politics, Kerala appeasement, and election optics, especially when top party leader Priyanka Gandhi represents that state in the Lok Sabha.
"Karnataka's dignity, self-respect, and administrative authority cannot be compromised to please party managers sitting in Delhi. The people of this state did not vote for a remote control government," he said.
Humanitarian concerns must be addressed through law, due process, rehabilitation, and accountable state mechanisms and not through telephonic or social media instructions from party officials with no constitutional role, he added.
Following Vijayan's criticism, Shivakumar had shot back at the Communist veteran, asking him to take care of Kerala's affairs while Bengaluru will be managed by the incumbent government.
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PM Modi to address poll rally in Kerala on April 4
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kerala on April 4 as part of the NDA’s Assembly election campaign, BJP sources said on Thursday.
The PM is scheduled to attend a public meeting in Thiruvalla and take part in a roadshow in Thiruvananthapuram, they added.
Modi will arrive at the NSS College grounds in Changanassery, Kottayam district, at around 3 pm and travel by road to Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district.
There, he will address a large gathering at the Public Stadium, with party leaders and NDA candidates from nearby constituencies expected to be present.
Later in the day, the Prime Minister will reach Thiruvananthapuram and participate in a roadshow covering about 1.5 kilometres from Killipalam Junction to Karamana, which is expected to draw a large number of party workers and supporters.
Senior BJP leaders, including Rajeev Chandrasekhar and V Muraleedharan, will also take part. Modi is expected to meet NDA candidates from the district before returning to Delhi in the evening.
Kerala will go to the polls on April 9.
