Sun Nov 10 22:55:28 UTC 2024: ## Karnataka Minister Accuses JD(S) Leader of Fund Raising for Elections

**Bengaluru, November 11, 2024:** A heated political exchange erupted in Karnataka on Sunday as Agriculture Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy accused Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy of amassing ₹1,000 crore from steel industries across the country to fund upcoming elections.

Mr. Cheluvarayaswamy, a Congress leader, alleged that Mr. Kumaraswamy, a prominent figure in the Janata Dal (Secular), was using this illicitly obtained money to influence elections in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and the upcoming Channapatna byelection, where his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy is contesting.

The accusation comes on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim that the Congress government raised ₹700 crore from excise sources to fund the Maharashtra elections.

Mr. Cheluvarayaswamy urged the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax Department to investigate Mr. Kumaraswamy’s alleged financial dealings. He also called on the Election Commission to take action.

However, the JD(S) swiftly refuted the accusations. Former Minister and JD(S) leader C.S. Puttaraju described Mr. Cheluvarayaswamy’s statement as a ploy to distract from the Congress’ own alleged fund-raising activities.

Mr. Puttaraju accused the Agriculture Minister of hypocrisy, pointing to reports of extortion by Agriculture Department officers, and urged him to focus on his own department.

This latest spat highlights the escalating political tensions in Karnataka ahead of crucial elections. With both the Congress and the JD(S) vying for power, the accusations and counter-accusations are likely to continue.

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