Karnataka BJP on January 22 criticised the Congress-led Karnataka government for not sending a delegation to the 55th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting held from January 20–24 in Davos.
While all southern states except Karnataka are participating in the WEF, the Karnataka government stated that it chose to skip the event to prioritise its Invest Karnataka Global Investors Meet, scheduled for February 12–14 in Bengaluru. Critics, however, pointed out that Kerala is hosting the Invest Kerala Global Summit 2025 in Kochi on February 21–22 but is still participating in the WEF.
Also, read: WEF 2025: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala gear up to woo global investors at Davos
Opposition leader and BJP MLA R Ashoka expressed his criticism on X: “When the Chief Ministers of all major states are in Davos making a strong pitch for investments in their respective states, neither Karnataka CM @siddaramaiah nor any of his cabinet colleagues are interested in representing the state on this important world stage.”
He further alleged: “Thanks to the mysterious power-sharing agreement, CM Siddaramaiah and his entire cabinet, including DCM @DKShivakumar, are engrossed in dirty power politics and one-upmanship, which has completely paralysed Karnataka's economy and governance”.
Quoting Moneycontrol article, BJP state president BY Vijayendra wrote on X:
"Even after Karnataka, under @siddaramaiah's leadership, lost the prestigious title of 'Startup Capital of India' to Maharashtra, the government remains in a deep slumber. Their inaction speaks louder than words—no roadmap, no urgency, no attempt to reclaim the state’s lost glory."
He further added: "Adding insult to injury, Karnataka is absent from WEF 2025 in Davos, where other states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana are pitching for global investments. Congress’s priorities are clear: freebies over the future, stagnation over innovation. From leading India’s tech revolution to missing out on the global stage, @INCKarnataka’s apathy is pushing Karnataka into irrelevance."
Karnataka BJP's official handle also weighed in on X: “Under the previous @BJPKarnataka government, Karnataka attracted Rs 1 lakh crore in investments, reflecting strong global confidence in our state's economy. Now, the Congress government, led by the most corrupt CM @Siddaramaiah, has refused to attend the Davos meet, missing a crucial opportunity to secure vital investments.”
Also, read: One Nation, One Pavilion: Six Indian states to share a joint space at the World Economic Forum in Davos
They added: “While most in @INCKarnataka are looting the state through scams, others are busy fighting for the CM's chair. This government clearly prioritises power and corruption over the welfare of the people and investment growth”
Southern states, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala, are participating in the WEF to attract global investors by showcasing their industrial advancements and investment opportunities. As reported by Moneycontrol, six Indian states are sharing a joint pavilion at the WEF this year. Unlike previous years, when states competed for larger standalone chalets, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala are presenting a united front in a shared pavilion.
Also, read: Davos Summit 2025
The delegations from Andhra Pradesh, led by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu; Telangana, led by Chief Minister R Revanth Reddy; and Maharashtra, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, are participating in the WEF. The delegations from Tamil Nadu and Kerala are led by their respective Industries Ministers, TRB Rajaa and P Rajeeve. Fadnavis said that Maharashtra has so far signed 54 MoUs worth Rs 15.70 lakh crore, which are expected to generate 16 lakh jobs.
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