The political temperature in Karnataka has risen after the state BJP launched a strong attack on the Congress government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, accusing it of mismanagement in the health sector and failure to deliver on job promises.
At a press conference in Bengaluru, Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra alleged that the state government has been shifting blame instead of addressing urgent public concerns. He said that Siddaramaiah, who has presented the state Budget 16 times, must now focus on providing solutions rather than excuses.
Health Department Under Fire
A major part of the BJP’s criticism focused on the condition of Karnataka’s public health system. Vijayendra claimed that the Health Department is in a state of crisis, alleging unpaid salaries for 108 ambulance staff and doctors, which reportedly forced them to protest.
He further alleged that government hospitals are facing a severe shortage of essential medicines. According to him, patients visiting public hospitals have been struggling for the past two months due to non-availability of medicines, with doctors advising them to purchase drugs from private pharmacies.
The BJP leader also claimed that the state government owes around Rs 143 crore to agencies providing CT scan and MRI services. He said this has affected access to diagnostic services, particularly for economically weaker sections and pregnant women.
Additionally, Vijayendra alleged that Jan Aushadhi Kendras functioning within government hospitals are being shut down, impacting access to affordable medicines for low-income patients.
Allegations of Irregularities
Escalating his attack, Vijayendra accused the Congress government of encouraging middlemen and irregularities in medicine procurement. He alleged that reputed companies are staying away from tenders due to what he described as a “commission system.”
He questioned why medicine tenders were allegedly being awarded to limited entities and demanded transparency from Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao regarding procurement processes and pricing.
Job Recruitment Delays
Apart from healthcare concerns, the BJP also targeted the state government over delays in filling vacant government posts. Vijayendra said that youth across cities such as Bengaluru, Dharwad, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, and Bidar have been protesting over unemployment and recruitment delays.
He referred to Congress’ election promises, which included filling vacant government posts within a year. According to Vijayendra, despite being in power for over two years, the government has not taken concrete steps to accelerate recruitment.
He claimed that while approval has been granted for filling thousands of posts, the actual recruitment process has not progressed.
The Congress government has yet to issue a detailed response to the latest allegations. The exchange marks another phase of intense political confrontation in Karnataka as both sides prepare for upcoming electoral battles.
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