In a sharp escalation of political rhetoric in Karnataka, state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president B Y Vijayendra has launched a direct attack on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. He has accused the Congress leaders of conspiring to provide housing to what he termed 'illegal immigrants' in a bid to retain power.
Allegations of a Political Deal
Speaking at a protest rally on January 5, 2026, Vijayendra made serious allegations against the state's top leadership. He claimed the current plan is a direct result of internal pressure within the Congress party. "It was the Congress government that demolished the houses," Vijayendra stated, referring to previous actions against unauthorized structures.
He further elaborated that the shift in policy is driven by a warning from a senior national figure. "As soon as K C Venugopal (Congress general secretary) warned, Siddaramaiah is trying to provide houses to illegal immigrants to save his chair," the BJP leader alleged. This accusation forms the core of his charge that the Chief Minister is making populist decisions under duress.
The Power Struggle Within Congress
Vijayendra's remarks also shed light on the perceived internal rivalry within the ruling party. He linked Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's ambitions directly to the alleged policy shift. "In a bid to become CM, Shivakumar made Venugopal warn the CM," he claimed.
This statement suggests the BJP views the reported housing plan not as a welfare measure but as a political maneuver stemming from the ongoing tussle for supremacy between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. The implication is that Shivakumar is leveraging his influence at the national level to force the Chief Minister's hand on contentious issues.
Warning of Protests and Political Fallout
The BJP state chief concluded his address with a clear warning of organized opposition. By framing the government's alleged intentions as favoring 'illegal immigrants' over legitimate citizens, Vijayendra has positioned the issue as a matter of national and state security versus vote-bank politics.
The announcement of a protest signals the BJP's strategy to capitalize on this allegation and keep the pressure on the Congress government. This development is likely to intensify the political debate in Karnataka, with the opposition aiming to frame the upcoming state budget and government schemes through the lens of this accusation.
The state government has yet to issue an official response to these specific allegations made by the BJP president. The claims, however, have set the stage for a fresh confrontation between the ruling party and the opposition in Karnataka.
