Mysuru: R Ashoka, leader of opposition in the legislative assembly, on Saturday claimed that Karnataka will see a new chief minister before Dasara this year. Speaking at an event in Vijayanagar, Mysuru to commemorate 50 years of Emergency, Ashoka said a different chief minister will preside over this year’s Dasara celebrations. “It is now confirmed that there is an agreement on the CM’s tenure. The CM is doing all kinds of circus to save his chair,” he claimed.Ashoka confirmed there were no ongoing discussions on the post of the BJP state president. “All the differences within the party’s state unit will be resolved soon. As per the instructions of the national leaders, a report was submitted,” he said. The opposition leader challenged the Congress party to clarify its position on the Emergency imposed during Indira Gandhi’s tenure. He insisted that Congress leaders issue an apology if they respect the Constitution. He discussed the Emergency’s impact, including widespread imprisonments and deaths of freedom fighters, noting that Congress leaders have avoided acknowledging these wrongs for five decades. “Chief minister Siddaramaiah, who claims to be a patriot, should speak on this issue,” Ashoka said. “They are all loyal to one family and saluting that dynasty has become a habit for today’s leaders,” he added. Ashoka dismissed suggestions of an unofficial emergency under the current central administration. “Siddaramaiah claims there is an undeclared emergency in the country. Nobody has stopped their children from contesting elections. Nobody has prevented them from going abroad and speaking ill of the country. During the Emergency, police decided what newspapers could publish. No such situation exists now,” he said.He criticised Congress’s handling of BR Ambedkar’s legacy and their Emergency-era constitutional amendments. “Congress criticises that the BJP will change the Constitution, but it was Congress that amended the Constitution for the Emergency. They treat Ambedkar as their family property. When Ambedkar died, they didn’t provide space for his memorial,” Ashoka said.
