Karnataka BJP predicts 'Diwali dhamaka' amid 'vertical split' in ruling Congress
Bengaluru, Jul 30 (PTI): Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra on Wednesday claimed a "vertical split" within the ruling Congress over the Chief Minister change issue and predicted "Diwali dhamaka" as all is not seemingly well in the grand old party.
He alleged that the CM is struggling to retain the confidence of the legislators, who have lost faith in him.
The BJP leader's remarks come amid speculation in the state's political circles about a leadership change later this year, fuelled by a power-sharing agreement between incumbent CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar.
"There is a completely vertical split between Congress MLAs in Karnataka. Most of the legislators who are unhappy with CM Siddaramaiah due to lack of development activities are not being taken into confidence. MLAs are upset and publicly attacking the Chief Minister on various issues," Vijayendra said in response to a question.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "Shivakumar is seen as Chief Minister in waiting. Few MLAs want Shivakumar as CM, few want Mallikarjun Kharge (AICC President), and some want Siddaramaiah to continue. This confusion has created a vertical split within the ruling Congress party in Karnataka. We have been saying that this Diwali, I think there will be a big dhamaka within the Congress party."
The saffron party chief claimed differences not only between the CM and his deputy, but also among legislators in the ruling party, who "have lost trust" in the Chief Minister.
"The CM who is perturbed by this is trying to take the legislators into confidence by announcing Rs 50 crore to each ruling party MLA for developmental works in their constituency, which has not been released yet...." he said.
Reiterating that there will be Diwali dhamaka in Karnataka, Vijayendra said, "We have been saying it for a long time. The information that we are getting from corridors of power is that all is not well within the Congress party. Russia-Ukraine war may stop, but this much is true that the war here (in Karnataka Congress) is beginning."
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VHP slams Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge for 'money laundering' comment on RSS
Nagpur (PTI): The Vishva Hindu Parishad on Monday slammed Karnataka Congress minister Priyank Kharge for linking the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to money laundering and asserted such statements were part of a strategy to insult patriotic organisations and defame patriots.
Kharge, while speaking at an event in Bengaluru on Sunday, cited the RSS' "network of more than 2,500 organisations, they are from America, England" to allege "these people are into money laundering".
Addressing a press conference here, VHP national organisational secretary Milind Parande said such statements will reduce the acceptance in society of those making them.
"They are trying to increase their credibility and trying to indulge in appeasement (with such remarks), both of which will not succeed. There are many forces and persons in India who have a problem with the awakening of Hindutva. They are coming up with such nonsense. Using such words and insulting patriotic organisations shows their intellectual bankruptcy," he said.
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"It will reduce their acceptance in society. What he (Kharge) said is absolutely false and even they know it. But they do it as a strategy to defame patriots. The people of Karnataka must think whether such people should be brought back to power. Hence, the VHP always asserts those who believe in the interests of Hindus must be in power at the Centre and in the states," Parande added.
Asked about the BNP winning polls in Bangladesh and whether it will improve the conditions of the Hindus there, Parande said it is expected that the community is protected irrespective of who is in power. So far, people there have been incapable of protecting Hindus, he said in reference to attacks on the community since the Sheikh Hasina government fell following an uprising in August 2024.
Asserting that most of the violence has been sponsored by political parties, Parande said, "The Hindu community is in a very dangerous situation in Bangladesh."
He also refused to comment on the face-off between the Uttar Pradesh government and Swami Avimukteshwaranand during Magh Mela festivities in Prayagraj. A controversy erupted on Mauni Amavasya morning at the Sangam Nose when police, citing heavy crowd pressure, allegedly stopped the seer from proceeding to the Sangam in a palanquin along with a large number of supporters.
The VHP as a practice does not give a statement on disputes between saints as it would not be appropriate, Parande said.
Without taking the name of Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal, the VHP leader said it was surprising anyone from the state can make such a remark about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The Congress leader has courted controversy by equating 18th Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan with the founder of the Maratha Empire.
On some persons sprinkling cow urine to purify a temple in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar following the visit of Muslim Shiv Sena MLA Abdul Sattar in Sillod on Mahashivratri on Sunday, Parande said places of worship must be visited by those who have faith.
Without genuine sentiment, it becomes a mere political stunt, he said.
"Religion should never be exploited for political gain, as that insults faith," Parande said while not commenting on the 'purification' episode linked to the incident.
