Congress land allotment controversy unfolds: Kharge family back in plot amid scandal

In a political twist, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar has come down heavily on Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge over a land allotment issue. The Kharge family decided to return five acres of land initially allotted to a trust managed by their son, Rahul Kharge.

Accusations have mounted that the Congress exploits the name of the poor for electoral gains, only to fall into favoritism and misuse of power once elected. Chandrasekhar pointed to other similar incidents, including allegations of the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) being involved in irregular allotments of land to the Karnataka Chief Minister’s family.

The BJP claims that the Kharge family has been exploiting Karnataka for decades amid ongoing investigations led by the Mysuru Lokayukta into the affair. Allegations of illegal allotment of land worth Rs 56 crore to the chief minister’s wife have emerged as court-led investigations continue to unravel the scandal.

(With contributions from agencies.)