Bengaluru — Karnataka’s political landscape is in turmoil following serious allegations of financial misappropriation by the state government.

BJP State President Vijayendra Yediyurappa has accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his administration of embezzling funds meant for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, calling for the CM’s immediate resignation.

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has issued a notice to the Karnataka government, seeking a detailed report within seven days regarding the alleged diversion of funds allocated under the Karnataka Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP).

This notice follows a report by Hindustan Times dated July 9, which brought the issue to light. The commission has highlighted that the Karnataka government allegedly diverted ₹14,730.53 crore from SCSP and TSP allocations to implement their election promises under the Five Guarantees Schemes.

Kishor Makwana, the Chairman of NCSC, stated, "The Karnataka Government misused the fund for the welfare of Scheduled Caste and diverted it elsewhere. Taking cognizance of this, the Commission has sent a notice to Karnataka Government and sought a reply from them within 7 days. If Karnataka Government fails to do that within 7 days, we will take strict action. This is unconstitutional as well as anti-Scheduled Caste."

Background on the Five Guarantees Schemes

During the 2023 assembly polls, the Congress party made several ambitious promises known as the Five Guarantees. These include:

• Gruha Jyothi: Free electricity up to 200 units in all houses.

• Gruha Lakshmi: ₹2,000 to each woman head of the family.

• Anna Bhagya: 10 kg of food grains per month to every person in Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.

• Yuva Nidhi: ₹3,000 per month to unemployed graduates and ₹1,500 to unemployed diploma holders.

• Shakti Scheme: Free travel to all women throughout the state in regular KSRTC/BMTC buses.

The alleged diversion of funds to fulfil these promises has sparked significant controversy, particularly as it impacts the allocations meant for the welfare of SC/ST communities.

The NCSC has emphasized its role in monitoring issues pertaining to the development of Scheduled Castes, especially in reference to the Special Component Plan (SCP) and Special Central Assistance (SCA).

BJP State President Yediyurappa has accused the Karnataka government of misappropriating ₹180 crores in the Valmiki Board Scam and ₹5000 crores in the MUDA Scam. He has called for a thorough investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure transparency and accountability.

According to Yediyurappa, the promise of a corruption-free administration by the Congress was merely a facade, with the recent scams exposing the true face of what he termed as “SCAMGRESS”.

The BJP leader has criticized the CM for resorting to "favourite alibis" when scrutinized, pointing to previous corruption charges that have haunted Siddaramaiah’s tenure. He emphasized that Kannadigas are suffering due to what he describes as the Congress high command’s greed, alleging that their primary interest is using the state as an "ATM".

Meanwhile, on Friday, R Ashoka, leader of the Opposition in the State assembly, wrote a post addressed to Rahul Gandhi. He stated that the money intended for the welfare of Dalits in Karnataka has been siphoned off to buy luxury cars in Telangana.

Ashoka urged Rahul Gandhi to act without fear and sack Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to rescue Karnataka from what he described as brazen loot and corruption. He concluded his message with a call to action, "Daro mat Rahul Gandhi avare, sack CM Siddaramaiah."

Notably, on July 6, R Ashoka made allegations against the state government through a post on X. He accused the party of having an anti-Dalit agenda and alleged that the government diverted ₹14,730 crore meant for the development of SC and ST communities to fund its guarantee schemes. He alleged that Siddaramaiah had looted ₹187 crores of Dalit funds from the Valmiki ST welfare board and is now diverting ₹14,730 crores from SCSP/TSP funds meant for the development of Dalits. “Aren’t you ashamed of looting Dalits for your greed for power?, he questioned the government.

The CM is also facing heat over MUDA scam. This scam involves alleged irregularities in the 50:50 incentive scheme of the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), where people who lose land for development projects receive either 50% of the sites or alternative sites.

The BJP has claimed that MUDA illegally allotted an alternative site to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvati. Furthermore, it is alleged that many individuals received more alternative sites than they were entitled to and were allocated land in localities with higher guidance values—official minimum values of land or properties—than the original sites. These actions purportedly led to substantial financial losses for MUDA, amounting to hundreds of crores.

Meanwhile, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar ridiculed BJP's accusation and NCSC notice. " The money is being spent on the same community, as per law, what's wrong in that? After Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, we introduced a law to use funds exclusively for the welfare of SC-ST communities", he stated.

As the Karnataka government prepares its response to the NCSC notice, the pressure mounts on CM Siddaramaiah and his administration.

The opposition’s call for a CBI investigation underscores the gravity of the situation and the demand for a transparent resolution.

This unfolding political drama not only raises questions about the state’s governance but also the integrity of promises made to vulnerable sections of society. The coming days will be crucial as the government’s actions and the NCSC’s findings could significantly impact Karnataka’s political dynamics.