Vote in ‘accordance with their conscience’: Karnataka Contractors' Association tells people

Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Contractors Association (KSCA) "has written another letter, this time to the voters," renewing its criticism of the BJP-led administration. The group reportedly said that governmental corruption has reached "frightening levels" and asked citizens to vote in "accordance to their conscience."

Congress national secretary Jairam Ramesh shared the letter on his Twitter account and stated, “The Karnataka State Contractors Association has written another letter - this time to the voters. PM Modi never replied to their pleas against the BJP's 40% Commission government. Tomorrow the people of Karnataka will reply for him.”

“Corruption has reached frightening levels in our beloved state. The 40 per cent commission in public projects has already claimed the lives of several contractors; the public too is forced to live with defective, dangerous, and life-threatening infrastructure,” the letter read.

Urging the people to cast their vote in "accordance with their conscience” it added, “Democracy works when people cast their vote in accordance with their conscience. Corruption deeply hurts our collective conscience.”

The KSCA claimed in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021 that they had been forced to pay elected officials and others between 25 and 30 per cent of the tender value before construction could begin. According to reports, Modi instructed the Bommai administration to check into the situation.

The contractors' group, however, claimed that there had been no investigation into the situation. “The investigation by the chief minister did not even take off,” KSCA general secretary, GM Ravindra had said earlier.

On May 10 (Wednesday), the assembly elections in the state of Karnataka will take place. Prior to this, the political parties ran extensive campaigns, with PM Modi himself visiting the state more than ten times starting in January.