Bengaluru: BJP MLA and former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan strongly criticised the state government over the CAG report on guarantee schemes, accusing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of administrative failure despite his decades of political experience.
Speaking to reporters, Ashwath Narayan said that while the government has significantly increased taxes and collected over 15% more revenue than its original projection, the additional funds have not translated into tangible benefits for citizens. “Key areas such as education, healthcare, governance, skilling, and technology adoption are being neglected. The Human Development Index should have been the priority, but the government has failed on this front,” he said. He also accused the ruling Congress of financial mismanagement, alleging excessive borrowing and widespread irregularities “from treasury to contracts,” which he said has worsened the state’s condition.
On the bill introduced by the Centre to remove Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers, and ministers facing serious criminal charges, Ashwath Narayan welcomed the move, calling it a “positive development” and a long-standing demand of the people. “This will be a landmark reform in holding leaders accountable and ensuring that politics regains credibility,” he added.
He also commented on the attack on Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during a Jan Sunvai programme, terming it “condemnable.” He stressed that a proper investigation should reveal the culprits and the motives behind the incident. “No leader, regardless of party, should face violence. Such attacks undermine democracy,” he said.
Ashwath Narayan’s remarks come amid increasing political heat in Karnataka, with the opposition sharpening its criticism of the state government over its handling of finances and governance, while also aligning with the Centre on new accountability measures.
