Political Storm in Karnataka: BJP Blasts Congress Leaders for Sidestepping German Chancellor’s Visit

A political storm has erupted in Karnataka after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the ruling Congress leadership of sidelining an important diplomatic engagement in favour of internal party priorities. The controversy centres on the official visit of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Bengaluru, which the BJP claims was not accorded due importance by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

The Chancellor’s visit was part of his broader India tour aimed at strengthening economic, technological and strategic ties between India and Germany. Bengaluru, being a major global technology hub, was a key stop on his itinerary, making the visit diplomatically and economically significant for Karnataka.

On his way to Tamil Nadu, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stopped in Mysuru and was welcomed by Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar on January 13, 2025. (Image: @siddaramaiah/X) | News18

BJP Accuses Congress of Misplaced Priorities

The BJP launched a sharp attack on the Congress government, alleging that Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar chose to skip personally receiving the German Chancellor as they were in Mysuru to receive Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was transiting through Karnataka en route to Ooty. BJP leaders argued that this decision reflected a preference for party hierarchy over the interests of the state.

Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, said the absence of the state’s top leadership during such a high-profile international visit sent the wrong message to global investors and diplomatic partners. According to the BJP, Germany is one of India’s most important economic partners, and the Chancellor’s presence offered Karnataka a crucial opportunity to attract investment, boost industrial cooperation, and strengthen its global standing.

Congress Defends Its Decision

The Congress government, however, rejected the BJP’s criticism, stating that the German Chancellor was welcomed in accordance with established protocol. Senior state officials, including Industries Minister M.B. Patil, were present to receive Chancellor Merz and accompany him during his engagements in Bengaluru.

Congress leaders maintained that administrative continuity was ensured and that the absence of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister did not diminish the importance or success of the visit. They also dismissed the BJP’s allegations as politically motivated, aimed at creating controversy rather than focusing on governance.

German Chancellor’s Bengaluru Visit

During his brief stay in Bengaluru, Chancellor Merz visited the Indian headquarters of Bosch, one of Germany’s largest multinational engineering firms, and toured the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). These visits highlighted the growing collaboration between India and Germany in advanced manufacturing, research, innovation, and clean technology.

The Chancellor’s India tour also included high-level discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat, where both sides emphasised expanding cooperation in trade, defence, renewable energy, and strategic security. Bilateral trade between India and Germany has crossed $50 billion, underlining the economic significance of such diplomatic engagements.

Political Undercurrents in Karnataka

The incident has also drawn attention to ongoing political dynamics within the Karnataka Congress. Persistent speculation about leadership ambitions and internal power balance between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar has been a recurring theme in state politics. The BJP has sought to link the controversy to these internal equations, claiming that governance decisions are being shaped by party considerations rather than public interest.

For the opposition, the episode has become a tool to question the Congress government’s administrative focus and its commitment to projecting Karnataka as a global investment destination.

The MGMM Outlook

Karnataka is witnessing a fresh political controversy as the BJP sharply criticises the Congress government for sidelining a key diplomatic engagement in favour of internal party priorities. The official visit of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Bengaluru, a city central to global technology and investment, was allegedly overlooked by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who were reportedly in Mysuru to receive Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. BJP leaders argue that this reflects a disturbing preference for party optics over the state’s economic and diplomatic interests, sending a message of neglect to global investors at a time when Germany represents one of India’s most significant trade partners. The absence of top state leadership during such a high-profile visit has raised questions about the Congress government’s ability to balance governance with political ambitions.

The incident also exposes the persistent internal power struggles within Karnataka Congress, with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar’s roles and priorities coming under scrutiny. While Congress maintains that protocol was followed and officials ensured administrative continuity, the optics of sidelining a foreign leader during strategic engagements reveal a pattern of prioritising party hierarchies over public interest. By allowing internal dynamics to overshadow the state’s global positioning, Congress risks undermining investor confidence and projecting Karnataka as a state where political calculations often take precedence over governance and international diplomacy.

(Sources: NDTV, News18, New Indian Express)