Congress’ Basavaraj Rayareddy’s corruption remark lends more ammo to BJP

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s economic adviser Basavaraj Rayareddy’s remark that Karnataka is ‘number one’ in corruption has come as a major embarrassment to the Congress government in the state, but has handed the opposition BJP-JD(S) alliance more ammunition to take on the government.

The BJP is already taking out the ‘Jana Akrosha Yatre’ to protest against the recent price hikes while the JD(S) is planning its own campaign. Now, the opposition is planning to use Rayareddy’s statement to launch another attack on the Congress government.

The BJP is strategising to highlight corruption in the Congress government by pointing out that Rayareddy’s statement has highlighted the reality. The campaign against the Congress will be taken up right from the booth level, party sources indicated.

The BJP is planning to have separate teams to take on the government over the issue of corruption and is also looking to leverage it in the upcoming elections including the gram panchayat, taluk panchayat and other local body polls.