‘We need polls in Karnataka as there is 60 pc corrupt govt’: LoP R Ashoka amid ‘rift’ within state Congress

BENGALURU: Amid speculation over a potential change in Karnataka’s leadership, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly and BJP MLA R Ashoka expressed his discontentment with the ruling Congress party and stated that an election was required in the state since the current government was corrupt and needed to exit.

“Since the last two years, there has been a tussle for power and the CM’s chair. There are reports of money transactions to MLAs, as there is a fight for power between CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. Horse trading is going on within the party,” R Ashoka said.

He further alleged that the state government is collecting 60 per cent bribe for conducting every business. “We need an election in Karnataka because there is a 60% corrupt government in the state. This govt needs to go,” he further said.

#WATCH | Bengaluru | LoP in Karnataka Assembly & BJP MLA, R Ashoka says, “There is no power with Mallikarjun Kharge, it is only with Sonia Gandhi. There is no power with the AICC President.”

“We need an election in Karnataka because there is a 60% corrupt government in the… pic.twitter.com/3rC0ztSYJz

— ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2025

He said that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had no power within the party. “There is no power with Mallikarjun Kharge, it is only with Sonia Gandhi. There is no power with the AICC President,” he further said. He stated that on November 27, 28 and December 1 and 2, the opposition would hold a protest against the Congress government in the state over the issue of farmer suicides.

Ashoka said, “On November 27-28 and December 1-2, we will hold a protest against the Congress government in Karnataka over the issue of farmer suicides. More than 2000 farmers have lost their lives. They have not released any money for the flood-affected areas. For sugarcane, they have not paid any amount to the farmers. We will protest in every district”.

Amid mounting speculations over the possible change in the party’s Karnataka leadership, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday asserted that the high command will decide on the issue of change in the Chief Ministerial face. “I have nothing to say,” Kharge said while addressing reporters outside his residence here.

“You have been standing here continuously for three days. There is nothing to say about the developments happening here. Whatever happens, the high command will do it. It is not required to worry too much about it,” he added. His remarks come amid increasing speculation about a change in the CM face in Karnataka, with the “power-sharing agreement” of 2023 between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar being cited in political circles. (ANI)