Congress’ Praveen Chakravarty backtracks over criticism of Karnataka government hiring BCG, issues apology for “private opinion”

AICC leader Praveen Chakravarty on Friday apologised for his post on social media platform X, criticising Karnataka Congress government’s decision to hire the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to help with suggestions to boost state revenue. Chakravarty, chairman of Professionals’ Congress & Data Analytics, had faced backlash from his party after his dig at the government was echoed by the opposition BJP.

Posting a retraction on X, Chakravarty said his comments reflected his private opinion, and weren’t intended to be a criticism of the Karnataka government. “I posted my private opinion on the broader culture of outsourcing core political & policy functions to outside consultants with no ‘skin in the game.’ It’s an issue that is debated widely in research circles & my comment was purely academic…I have spoken with & expressed my apologies for causing inadvertent harm to the leadership in Karnataka,” he wrote.

The Siddaramaiah-regime roped in the BCG earlier this week, under pressure to find funding to fulfil its guarantee programmes, which will cost the state around Rs 52,000 crore this fiscal year. The government has already hiked taxes on fuel, liquor, and property, and is said to be considering further rate revisions to mobilise revenue. The guarantee programmes themselves have come under fire after the party managed to win just nine out of 28 seats in the state in the recent general elections.

Chakravarty on Thursday had taken a dig at the government, saying, “If one wins elections by outsourcing core political functions to external fee charging transactional consultants, then one also governs by outsourcing core policy functions to similar consultants!”

The Opposition BJP is also against the decision, with Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka, questioning the necessity of BCG’s appointment, especially given the presence of an “economist” like Siddaramaiah at the helm.

State party president BY Vijayendra slammed the move as well, calling it akin to handing over the reins of the government to the East India Company, by hiring a “foreign” consultant. “The government is disrespecting the State electorate and insulting them for electing this government. It is effectively declaring itself unfit and incompetent. When the State Government operates under the directions of an external agency, the welfare of the people takes a backseat, and innocent citizens are the ones who suffer,” he posted on X.