Bengaluru – Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka, has made a bold prediction about the imminent collapse of the state's Congress government, citing internal dissent as the primary cause. Ashoka's statements, made on Monday, October 20, 2025, have ignited political debate in Karnataka, as parties brace for a potentially turbulent period ahead.
Ashoka claims that the Congress government is intentionally diverting public attention from critical governance and financial issues by raising the RSS issue. According to him, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Minister Priyank Kharge are deliberately using this as a political strategy to mask the state's lack of development and financial woes. He has gone so far as to call the current administration a "pauper government".
"It is not possible that Siddaramaiah and Priyank Kharge acted spontaneously. I think they pre-planned everything because there is no development in Karnataka. There is no money in the treasury," Ashoka stated. He alleges that the cabinet made a calculated decision to exploit the RSS issue to deflect from their shortcomings.
Ashoka paints a grim picture of Karnataka's current state, highlighting growing unrest and predicting widespread protests and strikes. He points to the transport department strike and potential strikes by contractors and ambulance workers as evidence of increasing public dissatisfaction. "There are protests all over the state. There is no money, no salaries," he said.
The BJP leader is confident that these issues will lead to a major political shift in the coming months. "This government will not continue for long. By November or December, there will be a major change. I am 100 percent sure — this government will fall, and there will be a new Chief Minister," Ashoka declared.
Adding fuel to the fire, Ashoka has accused the Congress government of "tax chori" (tax theft) in Bengaluru, referencing a letter from a citizens' forum urging the Chief Minister to halt property tax collection due to incomplete civic works that have led to flooding and poor road conditions. He argues that Bengaluru deserves action to address its infrastructure problems, not excuses. "Bengaluru deserves action, not excuses and intimidation," Ashoka stated. He also connected this allegation to Rahul Gandhi's "vote chori" claims, creating a counter-narrative against the Congress party.
These statements follow earlier claims by Ashoka, made in May 2024, where he predicted the government's collapse after the Lok Sabha election results, citing internal dissent and dissatisfaction among Congress MLAs. He alleged that many Congress MLAs are "fed up" with the government due to the lack of development funding.
Ashoka's criticism extends to the government's handling of various issues, including the failure to disburse dues to milk producers and salaries for ambulance drivers. He also highlighted concerns about the quality of food in Anganwadis and the lack of drought relief funds.
In previous months, Ashoka has accused the government of being "bankrupt" and prioritizing political games over the state's resources. He also criticized the government for allegedly supporting those who hail Pakistan.
The coming weeks will be crucial for the Karnataka government as it faces increasing pressure from the opposition and growing public discontent. Whether Ashoka's prediction will come to fruition remains to be seen, but his statements have undoubtedly intensified the political atmosphere in the state.
