Accusing former Chief Minister and BJP National Vice-President, B.S. Yeddyurappa of trying to create rift within Congress, the Minister of Water Resources and District In-charge, M.B. Patil said that the former CM was spreading canards about division within Congress.
Mr. Yeddyurappa, on Sunday, said to media persons that the State Congress was divided between ‘migrated’ leaders standing with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and ‘original’ Congress leaders.
“There is a plain lie in Mr. Yeddyurappa’s statement as the Congress is united and there is no rift within the party. In fact, the party, during the celebration of its two years in power in Davangere, vowed to contest the next election assembly election under the leadership of Mr. Siddaramaiah,” he said.
On the allegations of Mr. Yeddyurappa that the Chief Minister had neglected the Water Resource Ministry owing to which, the irrigation projects were running behind the schedule, Mr. Patil rebutted the allegations.
He claimed that the Chief Minister not only has been supportive in and out of the assembly, but also given him free hand to implement all the irrigation schemes.
“I believe the former Chief Minister did not have any statistical report about the projects and the funds allocated for them. In fact, our projects are ahead of the schedule and the Government has earmarked adequate funds for them,” he said.
He said owing to the model code of conduct for GP election in place, he was not in a position to reveal some of the decisions the Government has taken with regard to irrigation projects.