B.K. Hariprasad, a senior Congress leader from Karnataka, has criticised Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary B.L. Santosh, alleging his involvement in attempts to destabilise the Tamil Nadu government. Hariprasad claims Santosh is orchestrating efforts to split the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and create a favourable situation for the BJP in Tamil Nadu, mirroring alleged past operations in Karnataka and Maharashtra.
He specifically points to recent statements by ousted AIADMK leader O. Panneerselvam and claims of attempts to induce DMK MLAs to switch allegiance as evidence of Santosh’s handiwork. Hariprasad alleges Santosh is using similar tactics employed previously – offering financial incentives and positions – to engineer defections. He further suggests that the timing of these events, coinciding with the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, is deliberate.
Hariprasad accuses Santosh of being a “master strategist” in destabilising governments and asserts that the BJP’s ambition to expand its footprint in South India is driving these actions. He contends that the BJP, lacking significant organic support in Tamil Nadu, is resorting to manipulative tactics to gain power.
The Congress leader also referenced the political turmoil in Karnataka and Maharashtra, implying Santosh played a key role in those events as well. He believes the BJP’s strategy involves weakening regional parties to create opportunities for themselves.
Responding to the allegations, B.L. Santosh dismissed them as baseless and politically motivated, stating they are a desperate attempt by the Congress to deflect attention from its own shortcomings. He labelled Hariprasad’s claims as “hallucinations” and asserted that the BJP is focused on strengthening its own party structure in Tamil Nadu through democratic means. He further stated that the Congress is attempting to create a narrative to justify its anticipated defeat in the upcoming elections. The exchange highlights the escalating political rivalry between the Congress and BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
