BENGALURU, 21 OCT

State ministers have vehemently rejected accusations from the BJP that the ruling Congress party is fundraising for the Bihar assembly elections. BJP leaders Jagadish Shettar and BY Raghavendra alleged that state ministers are pressuring officials for contributions disguised as renewals and accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of hosting a cabinet dinner related to the polls.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar challenged Raghavendra to provide evidence, stating, "Where is the evidence? If there is evidence, let them show it. We don’t practice it and we don’t need it." He asserted that the Congress party would triumph in Bihar, as the BJP feared it.

State IT and Biotechnology Minister Priyank Kharge posted a video revealing a conversation between former chief minister BS Yediyurappa and late minister Anant Kumar regarding Rs 1,800 crore in black money. 

"The credit for dedicating the State’s resources to the high command belongs to the BJP, not to the Congress," Kharge claimed. State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy also described the BJP's allegations as "laughable," accusing them of using corrupt funds for elections.