Archive · 21 Aug 2026
BJP Tells Karnataka High Court Corruption Ad Cost 40 Seats
The BJP and Congress are involved in a court case about a newspaper advertisement.
The advertisement called a “Corruption Rate Card” was published before Karnataka’s 2023 election.
The BJP says the advertisement hurt its reputation and caused it to lose 40 seats.
A BJP lawyer said the advertisements appeared for five days in a row.
Karnataka leaders D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, along with the state Congress committee, want the defamation case dismissed.
The BJP is opposing that request.
The case is still pending in a special court.
The Karnataka High Court is considering the petitions.
The BJP told the Karnataka High Court that a Congress “Corruption Rate Card” advertisement cost it 40 seats in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections.
BJP lawyer Vinod Kumar M said the newspaper advertisements ran continuously for five days before the election.
The BJP made the claim while opposing petitions by D K Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah and the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.
The petitioners are seeking to quash a criminal defamation complaint filed against them by the BJP in 2023.
The complaint remains pending before the special court handling cases involving sitting and former MPs and MLAs.
- Who
- The BJP, D K Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah and the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee are involved; BJP lawyer Vinod Kumar M presented the argument.
- What
- The BJP argued that a Congress “Corruption Rate Card” advertisement caused it to lose 40 seats and opposed petitions seeking to quash a criminal defamation complaint.
- When
- The claim concerns the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections; the BJP said the advertisements appeared for five days before voting, and the court argument was made on Thursday.
- Where
- The argument was presented before the Karnataka High Court, while the defamation complaint is pending before a special court.
- Why
- The BJP is opposing efforts by the petitioners to quash its 2023 criminal defamation complaint.
BJP’s allegation
Petitioners’ legal challenge
Effect of the advertisement
BJP’s allegation
The BJP says the Congress newspaper advertisements damaged its electoral prospects and caused it to lose 40 seats in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections.
Petitioners’ legal challenge
D K Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah and the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee have petitioned to quash the criminal defamation complaint; the article does not state their substantive response to the BJP’s claim.
Status of the defamation case
BJP’s allegation
The BJP is opposing the petitions and wants its criminal defamation complaint to proceed.
Petitioners’ legal challenge
The petitioners are seeking dismissal of the complaint through the Karnataka High Court.
- Election
- 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections
- Advertisement
- Congress “Corruption Rate Card” newspaper advertisement
- BJP claim
- The advertisement contributed to the loss of 40 seats
- Publication period
- Five continuous days before the elections
- Petitioners
- D K Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah and the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee
- Complaint
- A criminal defamation complaint filed by the BJP in 2023
- Current status
- The complaint is pending before a special court handling cases involving sitting and former MPs and MLAs