BJP Accuses Congress of Auction-Style CM Selection in Karnataka

New Delhi, May 28: The BJP has seized on Siddaramaiah’s resignation to paint the Congress as a party where the chief minister’s chair is effectively sold to the highest internal bidder. The charge, delivered by senior spokespersons, is aimed at reinforcing the narrative that Congress governance is driven by factional bargaining rather than public interest. Gaurav Vallabh described the episode as symptomatic of a “tendering culture” inside the Congress, where aspirants compete through influence and resources. He suggested that Siddaramaiah’s departure resulted from a weaker bargaining position, reducing leadership selection to a transactional exercise. The BJP leader also cast doubt on the INDIA alliance’s existence, observing that its members routinely contest polls independently in states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. He argued that a non-functional coalition cannot credibly project Rahul Gandhi as its national face. R.P. Singh focused on the administrative cost of the turmoil. He noted that Bengaluru’s civic infrastructure projects have slowed, citizen grievances remain unresolved, and bureaucratic decision-making has been paralysed by internal Congress wrangling. Singh said the people of Karnataka are paying the price for the party’s endless power games.