Congress ‘infighting’: Karnataka BJP targets govt over Minister Jarkiholi’s ED remark

Bengaluru: Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, on Saturday alleged that the Congress government was facing an internal power struggle, claiming that the remarks of Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satish Jarkiholi had exposed infighting within the ruling party.

Reacting to Jarkiholi's statement that he was trying to ascertain whether the person who complained against him to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was from his own party or an outsider, Ashoka alleged that the minister's remarks had once again exposed the “internal conflict” within the Karnataka Congress.

“Congress' internal conflict and the fight for the chair, which had been simmering beneath the surface, have once again come out in the open,” Ashoka said in a statement.

Ashoka referred to Jarkiholi's reported remarks that he was trying to find out whether those who complained to the ED were from his party or from outside and that there was an attempt to politically weaken him.

He alleged that Congress leaders had reached a stage where they were filing complaints against their own colleagues and ministers before investigative agencies in an attempt to undermine them.

Ashoka also alleged corruption and claimed that public money was being misused for investments abroad. He accused the Congress government of focusing on internal political battles and protecting power interests instead of addressing issues concerning the people.

“On one side, there are allegations of looting the state's taxpayers' money and investing it abroad, and on the other, there are continuous conspiracies to sideline their own party colleagues and capture power,” Ashoka alleged.

Addressing Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Ashoka said the government's promises of development to the people had been overshadowed by allegations of corruption and infighting among ministers.

“Ministerial infighting, attempts to pull each other down and allegations of massive corruption are now coming out one after another,” he alleged.

Ashoka questioned the moral standing of the government if, as alleged, members of the ruling party themselves were providing investigative agencies with information about alleged corruption involving their own ministers.

He further alleged that the Congress government was more focused on retaining power and competing for control over resources than on public welfare.

Ashoka said the people of Karnataka would teach the Congress government a “fitting lesson” for what he described as corruption and internal power struggles.

His remarks came after Jarkiholi said he had informed Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar about the person who allegedly filed a complaint against him with the ED. Jarkiholi had also said he was not ruling out the possibility that the complainant could be an outsider or someone from within the Congress, and that the Chief Minister would look into the matter.

The ED had conducted searches at premises linked to Jarkiholi, his family members and associates as part of an investigation into alleged financial irregularities, overseas investments and other suspected violations.

Jarkiholi has denied the allegations and said he would respond to the agency if issued a notice.

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