'Where Is Evidence?': Shivakumar Hits Back At BJP After It Accuses Karnataka Congress Of Fundraising For Bihar Polls

Bihar News: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who also heads the state Congress unit, slammed the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for alleging that the ruling party was collecting funds for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

Shivakumar's reaction came after BJP leaders, Jagadish Shettar and BY Raghavendra, accused Congress ministers of "fundraising" for the Bihar polls, claiming that officials were being pressured to contribute, with money collected under the guise of renewals.

BJP Links Siddaramaiah's Cabinet Dinner To Bihar Elections.

Shettar claimed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently hosted a cabinet dinner, which had a link to the Bihar polls.

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While speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said, "I think Vijayendra and Raghavendra are recalling their own practices. We don't do it, and we don't need to. He's just making a hit-and-run statement. Where is the evidence? If there is any, let them show it."

He said the BJP fears the Congress, adding that the INDIA bloc would come to power in Bihar.

State IT and BT Minister Priyank Kharge also hit back, posting an old video of former Union Minister late Ananth Kumar and Yediyurappa purportedly discussing Rs 1,800 crore in black money sent to the BJP high command.

"Have the @BJP4Karnataka leaders forgotten that it was revealed in the conversation between Shri Yediyurappa and the late Shri Ananth Kumar that Rs 1,800 crore in black money was given to the BJP high command?" Kharge asked in a post on 'X'.

Reminding Raghavendra of his father's earlier statements, Kharge said, "It was BJP members who said Rs 2,500 crore must be paid for the chief minister's post, and it was also BJP members who said Rs 60 crore to Rs 70 crore must be paid for ministerial positions."
(With PTI inputs)