Karnataka Minister Predicts Jail for Half of BJP Leaders Amid Corruption Inquiries

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge has announced that half of the BJP leaders in the state may face jail or be running for bail within the next six months due to corruption investigations. He emphasized the Congress government's focus on efficient governance while examining numerous corruption cases linked to the previous BJP administration.

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge declared on Sunday that within the next six months, half of the BJP leaders in the state might either be behind bars or seeking bail, as the Congress government intensifies its corruption probes against the former BJP administration.

Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot recently granted permission to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment scam. Kharge asserted that the Congress is prioritizing good governance over witch-hunts.

Kharge revealed that there are currently more than 35 cases against BJP leaders, with interim reports submitted in several instances. A Special Investigation Team of the Criminal Investigation Department is meticulously examining these cases, aiming to uncover the details of alleged extreme corruption during the BJP's tenure.

He also addressed the contentious role of Governor Gehlot, accusing him of acting as a BJP puppet rather than a constitutional head. Kharge argued that BJP leaders lack the evidence to conclusively pursue the case against Siddaramaiah and accused them of exploiting federal agencies to maintain the case's momentum.

Kharge further claimed that the BJP has historically assumed power in Karnataka not through the people's mandate but by other means, leading to ongoing political tensions in the state.

(With inputs from agencies.)