In a development that has stirred political controversy in Karnataka, Basavaraj Rayareddi, the Economic Adviser to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the sitting MLA from Yelburga, made a contentious remark during a district-level meeting. While addressing officials and members of the Regional Imbalance Redressal Committee in Koppal, Rayareddi reportedly referred to Karnataka as the "No. 1 state in corruption," a statement that has sparked widespread debate and provided ammunition to opposition parties.

According to multiple sources, Rayareddi remarked that regardless of which political party holds power in the state, corruption remains a persistent issue. “No matter who is in power, rampant corruption will take place, and Karnataka state is No. 1 in corruption,” he allegedly said, pointing to the systemic nature of the problem rather than blaming a specific administration.

BJP Reacts Strongly, Targets Siddaramaiah Government

The statement triggered a swift and sharp reaction from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which seized the opportunity to criticize the ruling Congress government. BJP’s Karnataka state president BY Vijayendra did not mince words in his response. Taking to social media and public platforms, he stated, “Respected Chief Minister, your Economic Adviser and MLA Basavaraj Rayareddi has openly revealed that corruption and looting are integral to the Karnataka government.”

He went on to say that under the leadership of CM Siddaramaiah, Karnataka has become a symbol of corruption at the national level, tarnishing its reputation even internationally. The BJP has used the opportunity to underscore what it claims is a deep-rooted culture of misgovernance and financial misconduct in the state’s administration.

Rayareddi Attempts Damage Control, Blames Media Misinterpretation

Following the uproar, Basavaraj Rayareddi issued a clarification, asserting that his remarks were taken out of context and distorted by sections of the media. In a damage-control effort on Wednesday, he stated that he never claimed Karnataka was “No. 1 in corruption,” as was being reported.

Rayareddi clarified that his criticism was aimed at the substandard quality of public works being carried out across the state, especially in the Kalyana Karnataka region. “I addressed the officials, stating the quality of government projects is lacking in Kalyana Karnataka. Buildings that earlier stood strong for 50 to 60 years are now collapsing within a decade,” he explained. According to him, such poor-quality infrastructure has led to a perception that the state is plagued by corruption.

Focus on Regional Imbalance and Infrastructure Quality

The Yelburga MLA said he intended to highlight how poor execution of government projects contributes to regional imbalance, and he urged the committee to include his recommendations for ensuring higher quality work in their official report. “I questioned how, in such a scenario, regional imbalance can be addressed. Therefore, I suggested that the committee ensure that quality becomes a top priority in government work,” he said.

He emphasized that his concerns are not new, noting that he has raised these issues both in the Legislative Assembly and during meetings with the Chief Minister himself. Rayareddi also expressed his faith in Siddaramaiah’s vision, stating that the CM is determined to create a corruption-free Karnataka.

Corruption a Global Issue, Says Rayareddi

While acknowledging that corruption does exist within the current administration, Rayareddi stressed that it is not exclusive to Karnataka or the Congress government. “Corruption is a global phenomenon. It exists all over the world,” he remarked, attempting to place the issue within a broader international context.

Despite this attempt to walk back his earlier remarks, the damage appears to have been done, as political opponents continue to latch onto his original comments to mount pressure on the Congress government.