Bengaluru, Jan. 13 -- Senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka on Tuesday criticised the Karnataka government over its handling of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit, sparking a political controversy that has resonated well beyond the state.
In a series of social media posts, Ashoka alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar were in Mysuru to receive Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was merely transiting to Ooty, instead of personally welcoming the German Chancellor in Bengaluru.
He described the state leadership's actions as reflecting "misplaced priorities" and said that political loyalty and appeasement of the party high command had been given precedence over Karnataka's g...