The political climate in Karnataka has recently seen a sharp exchange of words between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya. The Chief Minister, during a foundation-laying ceremony for white-topping works in Gandhinagar, criticized BJP MPs, including Surya, for allegedly neglecting the city's development needs and remaining silent on the state's financial concerns in Parliament. Siddaramaiah went so far as to call Surya "Amavasya Surya," a term referencing the new moon and implying a lack of visibility or contribution.
Siddaramaiah accused the BJP MPs of not speaking up for Bengaluru or Karnataka and failing to demand what rightfully belongs to the state from the Union government. He specifically questioned whether Surya had ever spoken about the injustice and betrayal Karnataka is facing. The Chief Minister also targeted other BJP leaders, alleging they remained silent on the "injustice and deception" meted out to Karnataka by the Modi government. He urged voters to "punish" these MPs in the next elections and accused the Union government of discriminating against Karnataka, including not receiving ₹11,495 crore under the 15th Finance Commission, or funds for the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project. Furthermore, Siddaramaiah criticized the Union government's GST policy, claiming Karnataka suffered a loss of around ₹15,000 crore due to recent rate rationalization.
In response to Siddaramaiah's "Amavasya" barb, Tejasvi Surya has stated, "Sun shines whether it’s Amavasya or Punima." While Surya has not directly addressed the "Amavasya Surya" remark in recent reports, other BJP leaders have reacted to the statement, with one leader retorting that Siddaramaiah should maintain his dignity. Bangalore Central MP PC Mohan dismissed Siddaramaiah's accusations as "unnecessary blame on the Centre," arguing that the Union government has already provided assistance for projects including suburban trains, Metro, and housing support. He stated that the state government is responsible for funding Bengaluru's infrastructure and should clearly specify what they requested and what has not been provided.
This is not the first time Siddaramaiah has used the "Amavasye Surya" moniker for Tejasvi Surya. The Chief Minister used the same phrase in February 2023, criticizing Surya's remarks that waiving farmers' loans would negatively affect the country's economy.
The recent exchange highlights the ongoing political friction between the Congress-led state government and the BJP-led Centre. The accusations and counter-accusations reflect deeper issues concerning the allocation of central funds, infrastructure development, and representation of the state's interests in Parliament.
