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R Ashoka predicts Siddaramaiah’s Congress govt in Karnataka will fall by December, citing dissent, poor infrastructure, and tax evasion claims.
R Ashoka, Karnataka Oppn leader in state assembly (Credits: X)
Karnataka Leader of Opposition R Ashoka has predicted that internal dissent and dissatisfaction within the ruling Congress will continue and the Siddaramaiah-led government would fall by November or December.
While speaking to reporters on Monday, the BJP leader said under the current government, Karnataka has descended into “Jungle Raj” – where arrogance replaces accountability and intimidation replaces governance, news agency PTI reported.
“There is internal bickering, dissent and disagreement among the leaders within the Congress. This is a government that has gone astray.”
He also hit out at Congress leaders amid the stand-off with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), saying, “There is no development… There is no money in the treasury, but they want to divert the issue and are using the name of the RSS. This government will fall by November or December.”
Raking up a number of issues, including the condition of public infrastructure in Bengaluru, he accused the Congress of ‘tax chori’ and said Bengaluru deserves action to address its infrastructure woes, not excuses and intimidation.
He attacked the government by highlighting a citizens’ forum’s letter urging Siddaramaiah to intervene and direct the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) not to collect property tax from residents, complaining that “unscientific and incomplete” civic works in their locality have led to flooding and poor road conditions.
The tax chori allegation is also seen as a counter to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s “vote chori” (votes theft) charge against the BJP and the Election Commission.
“Mr Rahul Gandhi, Bengaluru has a new slogan: CONGRESS TAX CHOR HAI!,” Ashoka said in a post on X alleging that the government is collecting taxes, but not building roads or fixing drains.
“Thanks to the apathy of CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, Bengaluru citizens are fed up and demanding: STOP THIS TAX CHORI!” he said.
Ashoka said it is unprecedented in India’s history, where citizens are writing to the CM saying– “stop collecting our taxes until you stop stealing our money!” “Bengaluru deserves action, not excuses and intimidation,” he added.
In a letter dated October 13 addressed to the Chief Minister, the residents of the Varthur-Balagere-Panathur area, under the banner of the “Individual Tax Payers Forum”, which represents income tax payers and advocates for their rights, alleged that they have been suffering due to “half-measured, unscientific, and poorly coordinated” road white-topping and stormwater drainage works carried out by municipal authorities in their areas.
The state government has come under criticism over the poor state of infrastructure like roads and traffic issues in the city, for some time now, with industry veterans like former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai and Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw repeatedly openly urging the state government to immediately intervene.
(With inputs from agencies)
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben…Read More
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben… Read More
October 21, 2025, 19:18 IST
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