Congress Mocks Ex-Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy For 'Stealing' Electricity To Lit Up House On Diwali

Congress alleged that Kumaraswamy illegally used the electricity to lit up his house during Diwali and mocked him in a long post on X.

The Congress party has taken a jibe at former Karnataka chief minister and JD(S) state chief H D Kumaraswamy for drawing power "illegally" to illuminate his JP Nagar residence with decorative lights during Diwali. The party took to X, formerly Twitter, and posted a video of Kumaraswamy's house criticising him.

"The lone honest person in the world H D Kumaraswamy's JP Nagar residence was illumined with decorative lights with illegal power connection directly from the electric pole. It is a tragedy that such a poverty has struck a former CM to steal electricity!" the Congress said.

The ruling party further added that its government's 'Gruha Jyoti' scheme offers 200 units of free electricity a month for residential connections and not 2,000 units.

"Despite power shortage in the state, measures were taken by us to provide seven hours electricity to the farmers; you are facing such a "drought" that you resort to such a cheap theft? Didn't you hold a press conference and say "Karnataka is in the dark" and now you have lit up your house with stolen electricity?" it added.

The party also asked why he was saying that Karnataka was in the dark when his house was shining with decorative lights! "To ask a question your own style – Do you need to light up your home when the state is facing drought? Do you want to have fun stealing electricity meant for the farmers? Do you want the ‘Diwali’ (referring to bankruptcy in Kannada) of people for ‘Deepavali festival’ in your house?" the Congress said in the post.

Kumaraswamy reacted to the matter and said it was not his fault but of a private decorator who gave the connection directly from a nearby electricity pole. He said when he got to know about it, he immediately got it removed and took the electricity connection from the meter board of the house.

Kumaraswamy said: "I am sorry for this indiscretion. Let BESCOM (Bangalore Electricity Supply Company) officials come and inspect and issue a notice. I will pay the fine." He also slammed the Congress for making a big deal out of a "petty issue".

"I have neither embezzled any state property, nor grabbed anyone’s land. I don’t have such thirst for wealth that it can be quenched by someone’s blood," Kumaraswamy said.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said BESCOM will take action. He said he did not know whether any case would be registered against Kumaraswamy, reported PTI.