Karnataka Assembly Erupts Over Ambedkar’s 1952 Poll Defeat Claims

The Karnataka Legislative Assembly plunged into chaos on Monday as the BJP accused the Congress of orchestrating B.R. Ambedkar’s defeat in the 1952 Lok Sabha elections, only for Minister Priyank Kharge to counter that Hindutva ideologue V.D. Savarkar was the true culprit. The fiery exchange escalated when Kharge challenged the BJP with a handwritten letter from Ambedkar, prompting BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal to accept a debate, set for Friday afternoon by Speaker U.T. Khader.

The uproar began during Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s reply to the Governor’s address debate, where he highlighted Congress’s 2013 legislation on Scheduled Castes and Tribal Sub Plans. BJP’s Arvind Bellad questioned Congress’s delay despite decades in power, while Vedavyas Kamath demanded, “Who defeated Ambedkar in Parliament polls?” Kharge retorted, “It was Savarkar,” citing a 1952 letter Ambedkar wrote to a friend, a claim backed by Congress MLAs like Byrathi Suresh. He dared BJP members to resign if he produced the letter, asserting, “Savarkar was responsible.”

BJP lawmakers hit back, alleging Congress and Nehru actively campaigned against Ambedkar, sidelined him from the cabinet, and denied him honors like the Bharat Ratna. Siddaramaiah countered, “Who made him a minister? Why didn’t Jana Sangh support him?” Amid the shouting match, Yatnal accepted Kharge’s challenge, insisting Congress had insulted Ambedkar and lacked moral standing. “We’ll prove it,” he declared.

As Kharge attempted to read the letter, BJP protests drowned him out with slogans accusing Congress of betrayal. Speaker Khader intervened, scheduling the debate for Friday, urging order. Siddaramaiah endorsed the plan, but the session ended in pandemonium, spotlighting a bitter historical blame game over Ambedkar’s legacy.