BJP demands answers over audio alleging cash-for-berths in Karnataka cabinet
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has seized on a leaked audio recording allegedly featuring two Congress functionaries to allege that money changed hands for ministerial berths in the recent expansion of the Karnataka cabinet. The opposition party has demanded a response from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi.
At a press conference on Friday, BJP MP Anurag Thakur cited the audio clip to claim that cabinet positions in Karnataka were secured through monetary influence. He referenced Karnataka BJP leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, who had earlier pointed to the recording to allege that 80% of the ministers in the state cabinet obtained their posts by making such payments.
“In Congress, one’s stature and chair depend on the offering they make to its high command,” Thakur said. He also raised the case of senior Congress leader H.K. Patil, who was reportedly denied a ministerial berth, and suggested, based on the audio, that this may have been because he did not pay a bribe.
Thakur further questioned the induction of B. Nagendra into the cabinet, noting that Nagendra is an accused in the Valmiki Tribes Development Corporation scam and is facing a case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). “The question is why a person, who is an accused in the Valmiki Tribes Development Corporation scam and is still facing an ED case, has been inducted into the cabinet?” he asked.
The audio clip, whose authenticity has not been independently verified, has become the latest flashpoint in the political rivalry between the BJP and the Congress in Karnataka. The Congress, which leads the state government, has not yet issued an official response to the allegations. The BJP’s demand for a reply from Kharge and Rahul Gandhi suggests the party intends to keep the issue in the public spotlight.
The controversy comes amid an ongoing political battle in the state, where the Congress government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has faced criticism from the BJP over alleged corruption and administrative failures. The cabinet expansion, which was announced last month, had already drawn scrutiny over the inclusion of certain leaders with pending legal cases.
Political analysts note that such allegations, while serious, are part of routine political discourse in India, where ruling and opposition parties frequently trade accusations without immediate legal consequences. The veracity of the audio clip and the claims made by the BJP remain to be established.
The Congress has previously dismissed similar charges as politically motivated. However, in this instance, the party has not yet made a public statement. The BJP’s move to involve the national leadership of the Congress indicates an attempt to widen the scope of the controversy beyond Karnataka.
As the matter unfolds, the focus will be on whether the Congress produces evidence to counter the allegations or offers a detailed explanation regarding the selection of ministers. Meanwhile, the BJP is likely to continue pressing its demands, using the audio clip as a campaign tool in the run-up to upcoming elections in the state.
