New Karnataka BJP chief Yeddyurappa gets Rs 1 crore SUV for party work

After Karnataka Chief Minister K Siddaramaiah first attracted criticism for his Rs 70 lakh watch, now political leaders have raised questions about the state Bharatiya Janata Party chief and former CM BS Yeddyurappa's new Land Cruiser, worth Rs 1 crore.

While the BJP had slammed Siddaramaiah for the watch, they defended the white-coloured luxury car. The former CM's team has stated that the car was a second-hand vehicle, on loan from politician Murugesh Nirani. The team has stated that the new state BJP chief - who was appointed this week - needs a comfortable ride to travel thousands of kilometers in the state to strengthen the party after being defeated by Congress in last assembly polls, an NDTV report said.

"Murugesh Nirani has given me this car for party work. After that, he will take back the car. I am going around the state, so a good car is required. I am going to use it and after two years, once my term is over, he will take the car back," BS Yeddyurappa said.

The row over the luxury watch also involved a similar justification as the Congress had defended the watch as being a gift from Siddaramaiah's friend.

When asked why he was using this car to travel across drought-hit Karnataka, Yeddyurappa said these two things should not be compared. "When I go to other states, I will use their cars. I am not going to use this car there," he said.

- With inputs from ANI