Wed Feb 04 18:24:39 UTC 2026: ### Karnataka BJP Demands Excise Minister’s Resignation Amid Bribery Allegations

The Story:

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka, along with the Janata Dal (Secular) [JD(S)], staged an overnight protest in the Assembly, demanding the resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur over an alleged bribery scandal within his department. The protest continued on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, disrupting the Assembly session. The BJP alleges that the Minister should resign to allow for an impartial probe into the bribery accusations, citing an audio recording and a complaint filed with the Lokayukta as evidence.

The Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashok, accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of potentially being complicit in the scandal if he fails to take action against the Excise Minister. He further alleged that funds from the Excise Department were being used to finance Congress’ election expenses in other states, specifically naming Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Energy Minister K.J. George as being in charge of Assam and Kerala, respectively.

Key Points:

  • The BJP and JD(S) are protesting for the resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur over bribery allegations.
  • The protest took place in the Assembly and disrupted the session on February 4, 2026.
  • R. Ashok, Leader of the Opposition, claims to have provided evidence of the bribery.
  • Ashok accuses Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of potential involvement and suggests the Excise Department is funding Congress election expenses.
  • Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Energy Minister K.J. George are accused of overseeing election expenses in Assam and Kerala respectively.

Critical Analysis:
The provided historical context does not immediately seem to directly relate to or inform the reasons behind the Excise Minister bribery scandal in Karnataka. Therefore, a deep critical analysis of the causes driving these events based on current context is not possible.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Karnataka government faces a serious challenge with the opposition accusing a key minister of corruption.
  • The allegations extend to the Chief Minister, potentially destabilizing the government.
  • The opposition is using strong rhetoric, claiming illicit funding of election campaigns.
  • The timing of the protest on the last day of the Assembly session indicates a strategic move to maximize disruption.

Impact Analysis:
The scandal could lead to the resignation or removal of the Excise Minister, depending on the outcome of any potential investigation. This could impact the stability of the Congress-led government in Karnataka and potentially influence future elections if the corruption allegations gain traction with the public. The accusations of funding election expenses in other states could also trigger investigations at the national level, impacting the Congress party’s image and future political strategies.

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