The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been charged by the Congress party with plotting a “sinister and ugly plot” to assassinate Mallikarjun Kharge and his family. The allegations were made at a news conference in Bengaluru when Congress leader Randeep Surjewala released an audio tape of BJP candidate Manikanth Rathod allegedly speaking negatively about Kharge and threatening to kill him and his family.
In a statement, the Congress charged that the BJP’s “brazen hatred” of Kannadigas was manifesting itself in a “murder plot” to assassinate Kharge, who is known as the “Son of the Soil” of Karnataka. The BJP leadership was also accused in the statement of being “mute” while an “assassination plot” was in the works.
Priyank Kharge, the Congress candidate in Chittapur, was allegedly threatened with murder on November 13, 2022; however, Rathod was eventually released on bail. The BJP is allegedly using these strategies out of irritation and desperation as they are expected to lose the upcoming assembly elections handily, according to the Congress.
The Congress statement further claims that the BJP is using polarising strategies to avoid answering for the corruption allegations made against them rather than offering a vision of development for Karnataka. The assassination plot, according to the Congress, is the BJP’s final option.
The Congress has urged Karnataka residents to respond appropriately to the BJP in the upcoming state elections. The party has also charged that the Prime Minister, the Karnataka Chief Minister, and the Indian Election Commission have all been “mute” on the matter.
The severe and potentially far-reaching allegations made by Congress If confirmed, it would deal a serious blow to the nation’s democracy. The claims have been refuted by the BJP, which also charged the Congress with engaging in a “smear campaign.” It is unclear how the citizens of Karnataka will react to these accusations or whether the Congress will be able to use them to its advantage in the next elections.