Kumaraswamy Accuses Congress of Misusing State Power in Karnataka

Kumaraswamy’s critique centers on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. He dismissed the controversy surrounding Form-7 applications—used to raise objections to voter lists—as a standard democratic process. The Janata Dal (Secular) leader alleged that the Congress government is pressuring the police to register FIRs against BJP workers who identify discrepancies, such as duplicate entries or the inclusion of deceased persons and illegal immigrants in the rolls. He maintained that election officials, not the police, hold the sole authority to verify these objections.

Beyond electoral disputes, Kumaraswamy attacked the administration’s handling of the NICE project and the agrarian sector. He specifically questioned the actions of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, alleging a lack of transparency regarding the project’s oversight and the subsequent impact on local farmers. Kumaraswamy further claimed that over 3,500 farmers have died by suicide across Karnataka during the last three years, citing this as evidence of systemic government failure. Senior BJP figures, including BS Yediyurappa and R Ashoka, have since met with the Director General of Police to protest the alleged political weaponization of law enforcement, warning of potential public demonstrations if the targeted harassment of opposition workers continues.