Bengaluru, July 13 (UNI) A fresh political controversy has engulfed the Karnataka BJP after senior MLA SR Vishwanath attended the birthday celebration of an alleged rowdysheeter in Bengaluru, with videos and photographs of the event triggering widespread outrage on social media.
The celebration, held at Alur in the Yelahanka Assembly constituency, was organised for an alleged criminal known as "King Maker Das". Viral visuals showed Vishwanath sharing the stage with the birthday celebrant as supporters cut a cake and celebrated in the presence of several local BJP leaders.
The episode has handed fresh ammunition to the Congress, which has repeatedly accused the BJP of maintaining links with persons facing criminal charges. Opposition leaders questioned how a sitting legislator could publicly participate in an event honouring an alleged rowdy-sheeter.
The BJP MLA has not publicly explained his presence at the function, while the state BJP had not issued any official response till the filing of this report.
The controversy comes amid renewed scrutiny over the alleged nexus between politics and criminal elements in Karnataka, with the viral videos intensifying demands for political parties to distance themselves from individuals with criminal backgrounds.
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