Pandemonium in Karnataka Assembly as BJP, JD(S) demand scrapping of guarantee schemes implementation panels headed by Congress party workers

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, the government of Karnataka decided to accommodate hundreds of party workers, and senior leaders with an intention to contain unrest among the cadre. Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar then said the committees would help the government in ‘effective implementation’ of the five guarantees.

The Karnataka legislative Assembly witnessed pandemonium on March 11 as the opposition BJP and JD(S) members demanded immediate scrapping of guarantee schemes implementation committees, headed by Congress workers and leaders at the State, district, and taluk levels, as the schemes are funded by the State exchequer.

The opposition termed as ‘illegal’ formation of the committees for implementing of the guarantee schemes. It said committees should be headed by MLAs, and not Congress party workers.

The budget for 2025-26 has allocated ₹51,034 crore for the five guarantees schemes.

Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar said the government would consider the issue in the Cabinet meeting, but ruled out immediate scrapping of the committees. The BJP and JD(S) members staged a dharna in the well of the House claiming that government funds were being “looted for the benefit of party workers.”

In reply to a question of Krishnappa M.T. (JD-S) during Question Hour, Mr Shivakumar said that the president of the district-level implementation committee was being paid a monthly honorarium of ₹40,000 and the vice-president ₹10,000 per month while members were being paid ₹1,100 per meeting (two meetings per month).

While the taluk level committee president was paid ₹25,000 per month and members were being paid ₹1,000 per meeting (two meetings in a month).

In Bengaluru city, the BBMP guarantee implementation committee president was being paid ₹40,000 per month, and members were being paid ₹1,200 per meeting (two meetings per month).