Bengaluru: BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra has criticized the Congress government, alleging that over the past two and a half years in power, the party has misused funds allocated for the welfare of marginalized communities.
Speaking to the media today at the BJP State Headquarters, Jagannath Bhavan, Vijayendra accused the Congress party and government of consistently exploiting oppressed communities as a vote bank. He claimed that the Congress has a history of deceiving these communities and continues to do so even now.
He alleged that the grants meant for the social, educational, and economic upliftment of marginalized communities are being diverted to fund guarantee schemes, thereby doing injustice to those who truly need support. He stated that the BJP has been relentlessly fighting against this injustice, both inside and outside the legislature.
Vijayendra further claimed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah continues to betray the marginalized sections. In the 2025-26 budget, he alleged that ₹11,896 crore earmarked for the development of Scheduled Castes and Tribes was once again diverted to other programs, thereby denying justice to these communities.
He said this issue would be raised in the legislature and that the government would be held accountable. He affirmed that the BJP believes that benefits and justice must reach even the last person in society and, in line with this belief, the party would organize a strong movement. He added that the BJP would fulfill its responsibility of being the voice of the marginalized.
He accused Congress leaders of shedding crocodile tears over backward communities while using the AHINDA platform to win public trust and gain power under the leadership of Siddaramaiah. He insisted that injustices are taking place under Siddaramaiah’s leadership, and the BJP will continue to question this.
Vote Bank Politics with Marginalized Communities
Referring to Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge’s recent remarks, Vijayendra said that Kharge had openly shared his pain and disappointment with the people of the state. Despite working for 40-50 years in the party and contributing to its organization, Kharge revealed that he was denied the Chief Minister’s post.
He added that Kharge’s comments indirectly exposed how the Gandhi family, the Congress party, and Siddaramaiah have been unjust to Scheduled Castes and Tribes. Vijayendra questioned whether the Congress party is taking Kharge’s remarks seriously. “Time itself will answer that question,” he said.
He reiterated that Siddaramaiah has diverted funds allocated to the SC/ST communities for other purposes, thereby cheating them. On the other hand, Kharge has made a poignant statement that even after independence, marginalized communities have been used as a vote bank without getting true justice—a fact that many have now come to recognize.
With still two and a half years left for the next assembly elections, including in his own constituency of Shikaripura, Vijayendra said that decisions regarding the 224 assembly candidates of Karnataka will be made only when the elections approach. He concluded by stating that no one, including himself, can comment on it at this stage.
