Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader R Ashoka, the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday, branding the Congress-led government an "80 per cent commission government" amid fresh allegations of rampant corruption. The call follows a September 25 letter from the Karnataka State Contractors' Association (KSCA) to Siddaramaiah, accusing the administration of doubling commission rates for bill clearances compared to the previous BJP regime and delaying payments to contractors for nearly two years. Ashoka's sharp rebuke, posted on X, questions the silence of ministers and the CM, urging Siddaramaiah to step down if he retains "even a shred of dignity".
The KSCA's missive, signed by president R Manjunath and general secretary GM Ravindra, details systemic graft across departments like Urban Development, Mines and Geology, and Labour. It claims officials are converting tenders into packages to favour influential bidders, imposing unscientific penalties on vehicles, and charging five times the royalty for missing permits.
The association further alleges that state bodies like Karnataka Road Infrastructure Development Limited (KRDCL) and Nirmiti Kendra award projects to supporters of elected representatives and Congress workers, who then subcontract them for kickbacks. KSCA, which played a pivotal role in the 2023 "40 per cent commission" campaign that helped Congress oust the BJP, lamented that its anti-corruption fight has been betrayed, leaving contractors in financial distress despite repeated appeals.
Ashoka's X post amplified the controversy, stating, "Karnataka contractors expose Congress corruption! When in opposition, Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar shouted about a 40 per cent commission. Today, under their rule, contractors themselves have exposed that the rate has doubled – Karnataka has become an 80 per cent commission government!"
He accused the regime of using projects like Bidadi Township for "illicit real estate deals" and land grabs from farmers, adding hashtags #80PercentSarkara and #ResignCM. The BJP leader also questioned Rahul Gandhi's potential involvement, asking if the Congress scion would address the "daylight commission chori".
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The allegations have embarrassed the Congress just 18 months after it swept to power on an anti-corruption plank, with Siddaramaiah's government yet to respond publicly. Amid stalled infrastructure projects worth thousands of crores, the row could intensify ahead of local polls. KSCA's claims echo earlier 2025 accusations of ministerial relatives' interference in bill clearances, underscoring persistent woes in Karnataka's Rs 3.2 lakh crore public works sector. As the BJP pushes for a probe, the standoff risks further eroding investor confidence in the state.
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