Bengaluru – Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar faced sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday after they reportedly chose to meet Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Mysuru rather than welcome German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who was visiting the state. The opposition accused the Congress leadership of prioritising “political loyalty” and appeasing party high command over Karnataka’s economic and diplomatic interests.

The Congress leaders were in Mysuru to receive Rahul Gandhi, who was en route to Ooty in neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, Chancellor Merz was received in Bengaluru by Karnataka Minister for Large and Medium Industries MB Patil and other senior government officials at Kempegowda International Airport. The visit was considered an opportunity for significant diplomatic engagement, potential investment discussions, and promotion of Karnataka as a hub for global industry.

Reacting to the episode, Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, R Ashoka, accused the Congress government of “misplaced priorities and missed opportunities.” In a post on X, he emphasised that Merz’s visit carried “immense diplomatic, economic and strategic significance” for the state. He said that any responsible chief minister would personally oversee such a visit to ensure it translated into long-term opportunities in industry, investment, employment, and technological collaboration.

Ashoka noted the stark contrast in priorities: “While the German Chancellor landed in Bengaluru, Chief Minister @siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister @DKShivakumar chose to be in Mysuru to receive @RahulGandhi, who was merely transitioning to Ooty. Let that sink in.” He argued that the decision reflected “political loyalty and high command pleasing” taking precedence over Karnataka’s global standing.

“This is not just bad optics – it reflects a deep disregard for the state’s interests,” Ashoka added. He stressed that Karnataka deserves leadership that puts the state before party politics and global opportunities before personal political considerations. “Karnataka deserves better,” he wrote.

The BJP’s Karnataka unit echoed these concerns in its official X post. It criticised Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for rushing to Mysuru solely because, as the post put it, “our proud leader Shri @RahulGandhi stopped in Mysuru while on his way to Tamil Nadu.” The post also stated that the chief minister’s chair was “being used to merely please the ‘High Command’ rather than to serve the people.”

Further targeting Siddaramaiah, BJP Karnataka president BY Vijayendra accused the CM of prioritising his own political security over the state. “Siddaramaiah opted to meet Rahul Gandhi instead of choosing to welcome the German chancellor in a bid to safeguard his own chair,” Vijayendra said, alluding to the ongoing speculation over DK Shivakumar potentially taking over the chief minister’s post after the completion of half of Siddaramaiah’s tenure.

Vijayendra called the episode “not merely a protocol lapse” but evidence of the government’s misplaced priorities. He added, “Living proof that ‘development’ has not merely taken a back seat under this government, it cannot even be seen in the rear-view mirror.” He warned that Karnataka was steadily losing out on major investment opportunities and global partnerships to neighbouring states due to leaders’ “obsession with political survival over governance.”

He concluded that when personal interests override state interests, the consequences fall on Karnataka and its people. “Our state deserves leadership that puts the state first,” he added.

During his visit to Bengaluru, German Chancellor Merz toured the Bosch campus at Adugodi and visited the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). His itinerary reflected the state’s growing emphasis on technology, innovation, and industrial collaboration. Despite the Congress leadership’s absence, officials highlighted that the visits proceeded smoothly, though the opposition insisted that the absence of the CM and deputy CM undermined the importance of the occasion.

The episode has once again brought to the fore tensions between state leadership priorities and national party allegiances in Karnataka politics. Critics argue that while ceremonial obligations towards visiting dignitaries are protocol matters, they also signal Karnataka’s openness to global investment and collaboration. By not personally receiving the German chancellor, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were accused of sending the wrong signal to international partners, at a time when states compete to attract foreign investment and technological collaborations.

In the wake of the incident, political discourse in the state has focused on governance, priorities, and leadership accountability. The BJP has highlighted the need for state leaders to put public and economic interests above political considerations, warning that repeated missteps could cost Karnataka long-term strategic and economic advantages.