BJP Leader Calls Karnataka Government a ‘Jungle Raj’ Amid Contractor Payment Row

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, R Ashoka, launched a scathing attack on the Congress government on October 19, 2025, accusing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar of presiding over a "Jungle Raj" characterised by arrogance, intimidation, and rampant corruption. In a strongly worded post on X, Ashoka criticised Shivakumar's recent remarks dismissing contractors' protests over unpaid dues as "threats" to the government, framing the situation as a breakdown in governance where citizens' rights to demand accountability are being stifled. This outburst comes amid escalating tensions with the Karnataka State Contractors Association (KSCA), which has threatened a statewide strike if Rs 33,000 crore in pending bills are not cleared within two months, highlighting the financial distress plaguing the state's infrastructure sector.

The controversy erupted after KSCA representatives met Shivakumar on October 18, where he assured them of an audience with Siddaramaiah to address grievances but firmly stated that contractors "cannot threaten" the administration. The association, representing thousands of small and medium enterprises, had earlier written to the Chief Minister alleging that commissions for bill clearances in various departments have "doubled" under the Congress regime compared to the previous BJP government led by Basavaraj Bommai.

Ashoka seized on this, questioning, "When did asking for your rightful dues become threatening to the government?" He portrayed the contractors' planned agitation not as coercion but as a "cry for justice", emphasising that the government's refusal to release payments for completed works has driven workers and firms to desperation. In his X post, Ashoka further mocked the Congress's "pocket constitution" under Rahul Gandhi, claiming it erodes fundamental rights to protest and exposes systemic graft, turning the much-touted "Karnataka Model" into a "model of chaos, corruption, and collapse."

Karnataka's contractor dues crisis traces back to fiscal strains exacerbated by the COVID-19 aftermath and ambitious welfare schemes like the Gruha Jyothi free electricity programme, which have ballooned the state's debt to over Rs 3.5 lakh crore as of 2025, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports. The Congress government, in power since May 2023 after ousting the BJP in a high-stakes election, promised efficient governance but has faced backlash for delays in payments totalling Rs 25,000-35,000 crore across sectors like irrigation, roads, and urban development.

KSCA's allegations of doubled "commissions"—informal cuts allegedly demanded by officials—echo similar complaints from the BJP era, underscoring a bipartisan issue rooted in bureaucratic red tape and political favouritism. Shivakumar, a powerful Vokkaliga leader and the party's state president, has defended the administration by pointing to efforts like a Rs 10,000 crore special package announced in July, but critics argue it's insufficient amid inflation and rising material costs.

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Ashoka's rhetoric signals the BJP's strategy to reclaim ground ahead of local body elections, leveraging public discontent over economic woes to portray Congress as elitist and unresponsive. Supporters of the ruling party counter that the BJP's own tenure saw similar delays, with unpaid bills exceeding Rs 20,000 crore at handover. As the contractors' deadline looms, the standoff risks paralysing ongoing projects, including key highway expansions under the Bharatmala scheme.

With Diwali festivities underway, the impasse adds a sour note to the season of prosperity, prompting calls from industry bodies for immediate dialogue. Ashoka urged immediate action, warning that unchecked arrogance could fuel broader unrest, while Shivakumar's office indicated follow-up meetings. The episode encapsulates Karnataka's polarised politics, where fiscal accountability intersects with power struggles in India's Silicon Valley.

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