Opposition leader R. Ashok criticises Congress government over governance, protests

Bengaluru : Senior opposition leader R. Ashok has sharply criticised the Congress government on social media, alleging mismanagement and widespread public dissatisfaction under its rule. In a post on his X account, Ashok wrote that Congress has failed to address citizens’ concerns, leaving people to “take to the streets” to demand action.

Ashok highlighted several ongoing and planned protests in the state, including demonstrations by medical professionals over vacant positions, student agitations in Dharwad, and protests by Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes. The opposition leader questioned whether Chief Minister Siddaramaiah could remain “calm and unbothered” in the face of such widespread unrest under his administration.

The tweet outlined multiple instances of unrest, including state government doctors staging OPD shutdowns, student protests demanding recruitment for vacant government posts, and scheduled campaigns by marginalised communities pressing for their rights. Ashok’s post emphasised that these protests reflect mounting frustration with the Congress administration’s alleged corruption, inefficiency, and failure to manage the state’s finances effectively.

He further accused the government of allowing “anarchy and corruption” to thrive and questioned the adequacy of the state treasury in addressing public needs. Ashok claimed that the protests serve as clear evidence of public anger and stressed that the Congress government must respond promptly to citizens’ demands.

The opposition leader’s post underlined growing public discontent across all sections of Karnataka, warning that the government risks further alienation if grievances are ignored. By documenting these protests and highlighting administrative lapses, Ashok sought to position the opposition as a voice for citizens frustrated with delayed appointments, insufficient public services, and perceived financial mismanagement by the ruling party.