‘Abuse Of Power’: BJP Targets Karnataka Govt Over Throwaway Land Allotment For Congress Offices

Last Updated:February 18, 2026, 23:46 IST

BJP accuses Congress of allotting government land at concessional rates for Congress Bhavans in Karnataka.

A political slugfest broke out between the BJP and the Congress after the former accused the Congress government of allotting civic amenity (CA) sites across the state at concessional rates for the construction of party offices.

According to Congress sources, the state unit has set a target of constructing at least 100 new buildings to mark the centenary of the 1924 Congress session in Belagavi, which was presided over by Mahatma Gandhi. During the centenary celebrations in 2024, the government announced plans to establish new buildings to promote the party’s ideology.

The BJP alleged that several plots of government land were allotted to the Congress at a ‘throwaway’ price—just five per cent of the guidance value., calling it a “brazen abuse of power." The party claimed that approvals for the allotments were granted during Cabinet meetings to facilitate the construction of Congress Bhavans in different parts of the state.

State BJP president B Y Vijayendra, in a post on X, alleged that civic amenity sites worth crores had been handed over to the Congress at heavily discounted rates.

“The corrupt Congress government has no interest in people’s welfare. Looting the treasury is its only mantra. Now, in a shocking act of self-serving corruption, the Congress government has alloted CA (Civic Amenity) sites worth crores across the State to itself at a mere 5% of market value. This is a direct loss to the public exchequer and a betrayal of the people of Karnataka," he said.

BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia also targeted the Congress government and claimed that 24 sites valued at around Rs 50 crore had been transferred to the Congress Bhavan Trust for approximately Rs 2 crore. He termed the move “outright corruption" and questioned the purpose behind the transfer.

“For the Congress party, the people of the state and the country don’t matter. The DNA of the Congress is this: they have to appease the ‘fake Gandhi family’… The power tussle in Karnataka is visible… Should Karnataka people suffer because of that? Does that give a license to the CM Siddaramaiah, to grab public land and convert it into Congress property at a meager price, not even paying the market value to the government? Today, the concern is corruption…" Bhatia said as quoted by news agency ANI.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy claimed that 31 sites — including five from the Revenue Department and 26 from local bodies — had been sanctioned for the construction of Congress Bhavans.

He alleged that many of these were civic amenity sites not meant for political use and cited examples of land in Chickballapur, Badami and Mandya being allotted at a fraction of their market value. He warned that the BJP would pursue legal action if the allotments were not withdrawn.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar defended the move, stating that the Congress was constructing 100 new buildings to mark the centenary of the 1924 Congress session in Belagavi, which was presided over by Mahatma Gandhi.

“Yes, we are using government land for Congress Bhavans. We are allotting 5,000 to 10,000 sq. ft. plots," Shivakumar said.

He also accused the BJP of double standards, pointing to instances during its tenure when land was allotted at concessional rates to various trusts. Referring to land allotted to Chanakya University, he claimed it was worth Rs 10 crore per acre but had been granted at Rs 50 lakh per acre.

(With inputs from agencies)

News politics ‘Abuse Of Power’: BJP Targets Karnataka Govt Over Throwaway Land Allotment For Congress Offices

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