Bengaluru, 26 May

State’s Large and Medium Industries Minister, MB Patil, that Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) was in dire straits under the previous administration due to corruption, but is now thriving. He noted production has surged by 40 per cent, with profits increasing from Rs 152 crores to over Rs 400 crores since his tenure began.

“BJP leaders are making loud statements (about the appointment of Tamannaah). But where were these leaders when large-scale scams occurred under the chairmanship of Madal Virupakshappa (then a BJP MLA)?” Patil asked. “Did State BJP president BY Vijayendra have a share in those irregularities?”

The appointment of actress Tamannaah Bhatia as KSDL's brand ambassador was met with criticism, particularly from pro-Kannada activists, although Patil defended the decision as part of a strategy to enhance the brand's presence across India.

He accused the same leaders, who now portray themselves as protectors of State’s entrepreneurial heritage, of remaining silent when Virupakshappa was jailed on corruption charges related to KSDL.

He also voiced concerns regarding Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s reported push to relocate Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) production from Karnataka to Andhra Pradesh, labelling it as "inappropriate and worrying." Patil plans to meet with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to advocate for a defence industrial corridor in State, underscoring the state’s significant contribution to the aerospace and defence sector, which accounts for 65 per cent of India's total output.