New Delhi, August 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
BJP Lok Sabha MP Anurag Thakur on Friday stepped up his attack on the Congress amid reported lobbying over Cabinet portfolios in Karnataka, citing a viral audio clip to allege that party leaders were being offered ministerial positions in exchange for payments to the high command.
The audio clip allegedly features former Karnataka Minister R.B. Thimmapur and former MLA S.G. Nanjayyanamath. Addressing reporters, Thakur said the conversation contained serious allegations about the manner in which Cabinet berths were being decided.
Thakur claimed that the recording suggested nearly 80 per cent of Karnataka ministers had secured their positions after making “offerings” to the Congress high command. He challenged Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to respond to the allegations.
“Such serious allegations of corruption have come to light in the own state of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge,” Thakur said, while questioning whether financial considerations had influenced the allocation of ministerial positions.
He also referred to senior Congress leader H.K. Patil, asking whether the alleged “offerings” were a reason for him not receiving a Cabinet position.
The BJP leader further questioned the induction of B. Nagendra into the Karnataka Cabinet, referring to allegations surrounding the Valmiki development scheme and an ongoing Enforcement Directorate (ED) case. Thakur asked whether Nagendra’s inclusion was connected to the alleged payment system he was accusing the Congress of following.
He alleged that the Congress had developed a “payment culture” in which ministerial positions were not granted without such payments, and sought an explanation from the party’s leadership.
The allegations come amid reported internal lobbying within the Karnataka Congress over portfolio allocation. The Congress has not, in the material provided, issued a response to Thakur’s specific allegations concerning the audio clip.
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