Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has surprisingly sought the immediate removal of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The Chief Minister makes a daring plea to Karnataka.
The call comes after Siddaramaiah stated that Sitharaman did not completely understand the budget, describing it as a “highly risky” position. The Chief Minister’s viewpoint is based on worries over recent budget decisions, and what he claims is misleading information from Sitharaman.
Claims that statements were misleading.
Siddaramaiah chastised Sitharaman at a recent press conference during which she defended the Union government’s Karnataka budget. According to the Chief Minister, Sitharaman’s words were untrue and were intended to conceal the fact that the federal government has not provided much assistance to the states. Siddaramaiah claims that, despite Sitharaman’s assertion of additional funding, Karnataka’s financial aid from the Centre has fallen while the national budget has increased.
The state gives budgetary information and support.
The debate revolves around the data provided by Sitharaman. She said that Karnataka received significantly more money during the NDA government than it did under the UPA government. In response, Siddaramaiah claims that the overall size of the budget has lowered Karnataka’s portion of central funding. He cites data to indicate that Karnataka’s share of the budget has decreased from 1.9% in 2013-14 to 1.2% in 2024-25, indicating that the state has lost a significant amount of money.
The impact of GST money and its distribution is enormous.
Siddaramaiah brings up the fact that the state’s share of GST money has decreased, making matters even more problematic. While Karnataka has been a leader in GST development and collection, the state has lost approximately Rs 59,274 crore due to what he describes as “unscientific GST implementation.” Siddaramaiah claims that Karnataka has paid far more in taxes than it has received, citing a discrepancy of Rs 37,000 crore in tax share and Rs 13,005 crore in government projects.
The Chief Minister’s assessment extends beyond numbers; he also challenges Sitharaman’s commitment to Karnataka’s demands. He claims that her acts are part of a bigger pattern of unjust political bias and resource allocation. Siddaramaiah’s appeal for her resignation demonstrates how tense the political situation is between the central and state governments. It also demonstrates how the fight for fair fiscal policy and state backing is still ongoing.
