Congress govt. hiked bus travel fares, milk prices to fund 2027 Assembly polls, alleges MLA

Mangaluru City South MLA D. Vedavyasa Kamath alleged on Thursday, that the Congress-led State government hiked travel fares of government buses and milk prices to "fund the grand old party" for facing the Assembly elections of seven States in 2027.

Speaking at a protest organised by the BJP against the hike in bus travel fares and milk prices, Mr. Kamath said that Assembly elections of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa, Uttarkhand and Manipur are due in 2027.

"By hiking the milk prices and bus travel fares, the Congress is looting people in Karnataka to fund the upcoming Assembly elections," he alleged.

The MLA said that the State government hiked the prices of Nandini milk and curd during Dasara time. The travel fares of buses were increased ahead of Deepavali celebrations.

"We will never know what will be in the offing ahead of next festival," he said.

Mr. Kamath said that the State government led by Siddaramaiah had increased the travel fares of government buses by 15% in early 2025. Again the government is "looting people" in a span of two years.

The MLA alleged that the State government is yet to release incentive to dairy farmers for procuring milk from them through milk cooperative societies.

Mr. Kamath claimed that former Congress Minister K. N. Rajanna went on record recently that the Congress government in the State is the model for sting operation and the Gujarat government led by the BJP is the model for development.

He said that the BJP will stage 'rasta rokos' across the State if the government did not roll back the hike in travel fares and milk prices.

Speaking on the occasion, Satish Kumpala, president, Dakshina Kannada unit of the BJP, said that the Congress government has "cheated" the people by hiking the travel fares and milk prices.

The government did so as it has gone bankrupt, Mr. Kumpala alleged, urging the government to reduce the fares and prices.