Exodus from BJP to other parties is going on: Cong chief Mallikarjun Kharge

When asked if the Congress unit in Karnataka is united, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge told ANI on Saturday that exodus from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is taking place, indicating that dissatisfaction exists within the BJP rather than the Congress.

Talking to ANI, the Congress chief said, “Definitely. Have you seen any dissidents after announcing the tickets, like in BJP? In BJP, an exodus to other parties is going on. It means that the greater dissatisfaction is in BJP, not Congress.”

Mallikarjun Kharge stated that the people of Karnataka are fed up because the state’s BJP government has encouraged corruption over the last five years.

“People are fed up because in these 5 years whatever the BJP Govt did, more or less they encouraged corruption. They were taking a 40 pc commission openly, which was proved by the contractors themselves. I think that this is enough, they need not get defense from others. So, corruption, lack of infrastructure, and division among caste and reserved categories – are doing mischief. But people are united, they want Congress to come to power”, he said.

In response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s claim that Congress illegally granted a 4% quota to Muslims in Karnataka, Kharge stated that the quota was granted a long time ago.

“This 4 percent quota was given long back. When Supreme Court did not strike it down, why are you people doing this yourself? You (BJP) are snatching away whatever the government gave to the poor and minorities and are creating divisions just for votes”, Kharge added.

Karnataka’s 224-seat Assembly elections are set to take place in a single phase on May 10, with results expected on May 13.