The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday levelled serious allegations against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge, accusing them of acquiring land through political influence using the Siddhartha Vihara Trust. BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari made the allegations during a press conference in New Delhi. The BJP's attack comes at a time when the Congress has been raising questions over an alleged land scam involving Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

Addressing the media, Bhandari alleged that members of the Kharge family obtained land in Karnataka through the Siddhartha Vihara Trust, which they controlled. He said, "Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and his son are looting land and engaging in corruption in Karnataka through a trust, which is our allegation. The name of this trust is the Siddhartha Vihara Trust. Mallikarjun Kharge, his son Priyank Kharge, his son-in-law, and his wife are all members of this trust."

Bhandari further claimed that the trust is involved in multiple cases of corruption. He alleged that the organisation was used to acquire different parcels of land through political power and influence. Referring to the trust's structure, he said, "So, this Siddhartha Vihara Trust--in which Priyank Kharge, who is a minister in the Karnataka government, and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge are members--is a trust of the Kharge family itself. I will place not just one but multiple cases of corruption before you, detailing how Mallikarjun Kharge, through this trust, occupied various lands and used his power and influence to usurp the land of the poor."

The BJP spokesperson specifically highlighted a land allotment made by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) in 2024. According to Bhandari, the trust received a five-acre plot, earmarked for research and development activities in the aerospace and defence sector. He questioned the decision, arguing that the trust does not operate in the industrial, aerospace or defence fields.

Levelling the allegation, Bhandari said, "The first case of land grabbing I want to present to you is the Siddhartha Vihar Trust, which was granted by the KIADB in 2024, when the Congress government was in power in Karnataka. The stated purpose was Research and Development in Aerospace and Defence. The market rate for this five-acre plot is now Rs 100 crore. This should have been given to an industrial or aerospace trust."

He further alleged that no research and development work was carried out on the land after the allotment. According to him, the trust secured the property because of the political influence of its members rather than its suitability for the project. Bhandari claimed that the allotment process was irregular and that the trust benefited from its connections with those in power.

Drawing a comparison with previous allegations involving members of the Gandhi-Vadra family, Bhandari accused Mallikarjun Kharge of following a similar pattern in acquiring land. He said, "Instead, they gave it to this private trust owned by the Congress President, and this trust did not engage in any research and development activities. Remember, Rahul Gandhi and the entire Gandhi-Vadra family, including Robert Vadra, his brother-in-law, are facing similar allegations and cases of land grabbing in various areas. Mallikarjun Kharge, through the Siddhartha Vihar Trust, adopted the same method as the Gandhi-Vadra family. This is a crime under Section 131A and Section 131B of the Prevention of Corruption Act."

The BJP's allegations come amid an ongoing political confrontation between the BJP and Congress over separate land-related claims. Earlier, Congress leaders had accused Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav of being linked to an alleged land scam involving 253 acres of land near Ujjain.

On Wednesday, Congress leader Pawan Khera addressed a press conference in New Delhi and criticised Mohan Yadav and the BJP over the issue. Khera alleged that there was a conflict of interest involving the Chief Minister's family in connection with land purchases covered under the Ujjain Master Plan 2035.

According to Khera, members of Mohan Yadav's family purchased a significant portion of land in the area where the Ujjain Kumbh is scheduled to be held in 2028. He claimed that the family acquired 111 acres out of a total of 168 acres in the region. The Congress has argued that the purchases raise questions about the role of the Chief Minister and the possible benefits arising from future development plans in the area.

With both parties exchanging allegations over separate land-related matters, the political battle between the BJP and Congress has intensified. The claims made by both sides are now at the centre of a fresh war of words, with each party accusing the other of misusing power and influence in land transactions.