BJP, JD(S) accuse Karnataka govt of misusing tax payers’ money for ads on new job scheme

The Opposition BJP and JD(S) members in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday (January 29, 2026) accused the ruling Congress government of “looting taxpayers’ money” by issuing full-page advertisements criticising the NDA government’s Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) scheme.

BJP and JD(S) members said they had no objection to the Congress party issuing advertisements in newspapers, but objected to advertisements being released by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, which they termed “illegal.”

The entire Opposition staged a walkout after Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge defended the advertisements and said similar advertisements would be issued in newspapers in the national capital to highlight what he described as the drawbacks of the Centre’s new job scheme.

The government has convened a special session of the state legislature to pass a resolution condemning the VB-G RAM (G) scheme and to demand restoration of MGNREGA of the UPA regime.

‘Public money misused’

As soon as the House assembled, BJP members S. Suresh Kumar and V. Sunil Kumar, along with JD(S) member C.B. Suresh Babu, sought an explanation from the government on the purpose and merits of the advertisements.

Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok alleged that public money had been misused to strain Centre-State relations. He accused the Congress government of using taxpayers’ money to promote party-related matters by publishing advertisements against a Central government scheme.

Instead of criticising the scheme, Mr. Ashok said the government could have used Mahatma Gandhi’s photograph to create awareness on issues such as de-addiction, or for campaigns like Swachh Bharat. He also alleged that the advertisements were factually incorrect and insulting to the Father of the Nation.

Mr Suresh Kumar termed the issue of advertisements the “biggest crime,” while BJP State president and member B.Y. Vijayendra alleged that liquor shops were found every 500 metres, with fewer medical stores in comparison.

Responding to the allegations, Mr. Kharge accused the BJP of ignoring the fact that the Centre runs largely on taxes collected from Karnataka. A disproportionate share of tax revenue is being devolved to States like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, he said, while Karnataka was denied its due share.