Congress questions BJP’s “double engine” claim in Karnataka

The BJP has often used the“double engine” slogan while referring to the same government in the state as well as the Center ahead of assembly elections.

New Delhi:The Congress on Wednesday questioned the BJP’s “double engine” slogan saying that Karnataka earns 94 percent of revenues on its own and as per Finance Commission tax-sharing formula and not due to PM Modi’s blessings.

The “double engine” slogan refers to having BJP governments both at the Centre and in a state, which pushes development at a faster pace. Recently, BJP chief JP Nadda had warned the voters that if they do not vote for the saffron party, they won’t get the blessings of PM Modi.

Over the past days, the “double engine” slogan has been used both by the PM and the various party leaders ahead of the May 10 assembly polls to claim that the ruling party brought development to the southern state. In turn, the Congress campaign is based on the main charge that the BJP ran a 40 percent commission government in the state over the past 3 years.

In fact, all the Congress star campaigners including president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have been pointing out that the Bommai government was born in 2019 out of corruption when the BJP toppled the coalition government of JD-S-Congress by poaching 17 Congress lawmakers. The JD-S-Congress government headed by chief minister HD Kumaraswamy came into power in 2018.

Besides the 40 percent commission allegations first raised by the Karnataka contractors’ association, the Congress is also alleging that the BJP’s claims of development are hollow and that the Bommai government actually pushed the state backwards by neglecting issues like jobs and social harmony.

During her speeches, Priyanka has pointed out that the BJP government did not fill up the 2.5 lakh vacant government jobs and allegedly looted the state exchequer of Rs 1.5 lakh crore, which could have been used to make hospitals, schools and roads.

In 2021, Karnataka’s share in central taxes was Rs 28,000 crore but the state got only Rs 21,000 cr, Rs 8,000 cr less. At present the state budget is roughly Rs 3.25 lakh crore. The state’s contribution to central taxes is significant.

The Congress has said that the various social benefits promised by it like 10 kg free rice per BPL family, Rs 2000 women’s allowance, Rs 3000 unemployment allowance and free power up to 200 units, would cost around 10 percent of state budget size and can be easily managed.

On Wednesday, Kharge reiterated that the Congress was committed to rebuilding the brand Karnataka and fulfilling the aspirations of the 6.5 crore voters through its progressive manifesto.

“What double engine? Around 94 percent of the revenue of Karnataka comes from the state’s own revenue plus its own share of taxes from the Centre, determined not by “Modi Ashirwad” but by the Finance Commission formula,” Congress communications in charge Jairam Ramesh said.

“The May 10 election is to propel the Karnataka engine which got derailed by the BJP over the past 4 years. It has to be an engine of growth combined with social harmony, not a 40 percent commission engine running on hot air,” he said.