- People following the fortunes of the Karnataka state politics would have noticed how the Congress came to power with a thumping victory in the assembly elections defeating the then ruling Bharatiya Janata Party quite comfortably. As you are aware, the Congress gained a comfortable majority on the back of five guarantee schemes targeting the most vulnerable but influential strata of society. The five schemes are a huge hit with women in particular but also have benefitted the student community and the unemployed youths as well. No questions asked. It’s another matter altogether that the state exchequer is desperately looking to be shored up with the revenue generation taking a big hit with the introduction of free schemes.
PC: The Wire
- As reported extensively, the state coffers are crying for revenue and the only way to increase the inflow of funds is to hike the taxes, cess, duties, and some such measures on commodities expected to yield substantive revenue. Looking from any angle, the state government’s measures implemented only substantiate what is being talked about all around. Extending benefits on one hand and taking it back from the other. Yes, more money in the hands of the homemakers/women has largely helped the poor in tackling the inflationary trends. However, the increase in other expenses means that little money accrued in the hands is spent on other critical requirements for day-to-day living. And the state government is also burdened with a slew of scams of late as well.
- The moot point to ponder over here is why the main opposition party the BJP is not pressing ahead with an overtly aggressive intent to corner the BJP over the rapidly unearthing one scam after another. Adjustment politics? The ST Development Corporation fund embezzlement involving the minister and officials has already hit the national headlines. The unauthorized opening of accounts and transfer of huge amounts of money into those have already resulted in the minister’s resignation and arrest. Some officials are also arrested for the fraud that has come to light. Since the CM himself directly handles the finance ministry, it is anybody’s guess as to how a huge amount of nearly two hundred crores was transferred without the knowledge of the head.
PC: The Economic Times
- The other huge scam coming out from the Congress’ stable is the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) allocating alternative sites to no less than the wife of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The fourteen alternative sites allotted to the wife of the CM are allegedly illegal with the government and the CM going defensive in the light of the unearthing of the matter. Mind you, the Congress successfully campaigned about corruption during the BJP’s regime reaping handsome results in the form of an absolute majority. Thus, it’s intriguing to notice an evident lack of aggressive intent from the BJP to nail down the Congress government which could yield desirous returns in the political gamesmanship. Let’s wait to see how the BJP goes about henceforth.
