Slew of corruption charges to take toll of BJP’s poll show

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: With the Assembly polls round the corner, a slew of issues including the 40 percent commission charge, gross irregularities in the Police Sub-Inspector selection process, cash gifts for selected journalists, corruption charges against ministers, the high profile ‘Santro Ravi’ case and the Metro Pillar collapse are set to haunt the Bommai Government during the polls.

Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has been releasing evidence on the links of Santro Ravi, an accused in many cases, with BJP leaders. Ravi’s closeness with BJP ministers and his alleged involvement in the transfers of officials in some departments has come as a major embarrassment for the CM.

The release of audio and videos of Ravi with several BJP ministers has shamed the Bommai Government. The current situation is akin to that the previous Congress Government faced just a few months before the 2018 Assembly elections.

The Siddaramaiah Government had faced the onslaught of the opposition BJP and JD(S) over the suicide of DySP Ganapathi, murders of Hindu activists, sexual harassment charges against two ministers, video of a minister’s wife receiving bribe, the wrath of Lingayats/Veerashaivas over the creation of a separate religion, murder of Paresh Mestri and brawls involving the children of Congress ministers and MLAs.

These allegations did play a role in bringing down the Congress Party tally from 120 plus in 2013 to 70 seats in 2018. The current BJP government is facing a similar predicament with several corruption charges being levelled against it.