“Commission Was There, Is There, Will Be There”: Minister Satish Jarkiholi’s Blunt Admission Sparks Political Storm

Jarkiholi blamed the previous BJP government for awarding tenders without adequate budgetary backing, resulting in significant pending payments. “If those works had not been sanctioned without financial support, the situation would not have arisen,” he said. According to the minister, works have been executed but payments require time due to fiscal constraints.

He stated that irrigation and Public Works Department projects account for a large portion of the pending dues. While work cannot be halted midway, he acknowledged that contractors tend to bid in departments where they feel financially comfortable.

The minister revealed that nearly ₹12,000 crore in pending bills existed in his department, of which ₹3,000 crore has already been cleared. The remaining ₹9,000 crore will be balanced in phases, he said. He denied approving new works beyond budgetary limits and clarified that financial approvals are subject to scrutiny by the Finance Department.

Jarkiholi further said he could not respond on behalf of other ministers and emphasized that political blame-trading between parties would not resolve the issue. “Commission needs to be regulated,” he remarked, expressing the complexity of completely eliminating the practice.

The statement has added fresh momentum to the ongoing political debate over alleged commission culture in Karnataka’s public works sector.