Karnataka: BJP hopes to target Congress govt on multiple issues in monsoon session

Bengaluru: The state BJP headquarters in Bengaluru was abuzz with activity on Wednesday as 29 saffron party MLCs met Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra to chalk out plans to corner the Congress government on multiple issues during the monsoon session of the state legislature starting on August 11.

Along with six JD(S) MLCs, the NDA boasts 35 members in the 75-member Karnataka Legislative Council, and the opposition bloc is hoping to pin the state government down on multiple fronts, ranging from the stampede at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium to deteriorating law and order. Leader of Opposition in the Council Chalavadi T Narayanaswamy slammed the government’s decision to hold the legislature session for only nine days, of which there would be only eight working days.

Accusing the government of trying to evade opposition’s scrutiny, Chalavadi added, “This session is being held just to pass a few bills.”

The LoP alleged that the state government was trying to escape accountability for the stampede that marred RCB’s victory celebrations. Chalavadi added, “Police are being used to conceal corruption in labour, and rural development departments. The government is also rolling out anti-Dalit policies, while co-ordinating with Communists to target Hindu temples. The state government is trying to enlist Kerala police for investigations in Karnataka.”

Lack of medicines at hospitals, closure of Jan Aushadi stores, and misinformation about deaths from Covid vaccines were among the issues that the opposition would raise in the legislature, Chalavadi said.