Politics
07 Aug, 2026
BJP demands clarification from Cong on 'auctioning' of ministerial berths in Karnataka cabinet
Business To Business Bengaluru, 07 August, 2026: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday sought a clarification from Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi over allegations that ministerial berths in the recently expanded Karnataka cabinet were "auctioned".
The demand follows claims made by Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, who on Wednesday cited a purported audio conversation between two Congress leaders from the state.
BJP's allegations
Narayanaswamy alleged that the purported audio recording suggested:
- Cabinet positions were secured through monetary influence.
- "Honest" MLAs who lacked financial resources were overlooked for ministerial posts.
He also questioned the re-induction of
B. Nagendra into the state cabinet, noting that he has been
chargesheeted in the alleged
Rs 89-crore Valmiki Tribes Development Corporation scam.
Congress response
The report refers to the BJP's demand and allegations. It does not indicate that the Congress, Mallikarjun Kharge or Rahul Gandhi had responded to the claims at the time of the report.
The authenticity of the purported audio recording has not been independently established, and the allegations remain part of the political exchange between the two parties.