After corruption allegations, quota Bill flip-flop: As Congress stumbles in Karnataka, BJP senses an opportunity

From a raft of corruption allegations to a quick flip-flop on a Bill to provide domicile quota in all establishments, the Congress government in Karnataka seems unable to get anything right at present. These allegations have provided a lease of life to the BJP that now has multiple issues over which it can corner the Congress.

As the Monsoon Session began on Monday, the BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular) stepped up efforts to corner the government in both Houses of the Legislature. On Wednesday, the Opposition parties received another shot in the arm as the Industry reacted sharply to the Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet’s decision to clear a Bill envisaging 75% reservation in the jobs in non-management and 50% in management sector in all establishments for “local” candidates.

On Thursday, BJP leaders, including the party’s state president B Y Vijayendra, were detained when they attempted to lay siege on the Assembly over the alleged scam in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Limited and demand the Chief Minister’s resignation. At a press conference, state Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda alleged that the Centre was trying to bring down the Karnataka government as they attempted Jharkhand, Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and West Bengal. The alleged scams also continued to rock the Karnataka Assembly where Siddaramaiah on Thursday targeted the Opposition and said he does not have a single “black spot” in his career.

The BJP also hit out at the government in the Assembly over the domicile quota Bill, calling the state administration a “Tughlaq government”. In response, Siddaramaiah reiterated that the Bill would be discussed “at length” in the next Cabinet meeting before