HUBBALLI, Nov 22: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Saturday alleged that “horse trading” of Congress MLAs is underway in Karnataka amid a power struggle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar.
Joshi claimed that Shivakumar’s recent visit to jailed MLAs Vinay Kulkarni and KC Veerendra (Puppy) in Bengaluru Central Prison was part of an effort to secure their support.
He said, “There is clear infighting in Congress. Siddaramaiah is unwilling to step down as CM, while Shivakumar is determined that he should not continue. In this scenario, both factions are attempting to win over MLAs, even visiting prisons to seek support and offer incentives.”
The union minister also warned that political instability is affecting governance. He stated, “The Karnataka administration has effectively broken down due to this ongoing power struggle. There is no one to tackle problems caused by heavy rains and poor road conditions.”
Criticising Bengaluru police, he noted, “Daylight robberies are increasingly common. Political instability, lack of direction, and weak control over bureaucracy have left the administration in a state of collapse.”
On the economic front, Joshi dismissed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s claim regarding the import of 17.94 lakh metric tonnes of maize. He said, “The CM has cited imports of 17.94 lakh tonnes, but these figures are inaccurate. He is sharing information without proper verification. During the sugarcane agitation, he did the same and had no answers when challenged.”
He added, “This time, imports are between only 50,000 and one lakh tonnes, while India continues to export maize. The claims being made are entirely misleading.”
(UNI)
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