Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Thursday that his party would extend support and political strength to the family of K.S. Puttannaiah, Melkote MLA, who died recently.
Puttannaiah was a great Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) leader and had vast knowledge and experience in the farming sector. He strived hard to strengthen the farmers’ movement and had dedicated his life to farmers, Mr. Siddaramaiah said.
The Chief Minister was addressing a gathering during ‘Hasiru Namana’, a programme organised to remember Puttannaiah.
Whoever from his family, whether Suneetha Puttannaiah or his son Darshan Puttannaiah, contests the election, the Congress will extend its support, he said. When he asked the people to decide about their next leader, a majority of them said Darshan Puttannaiah. However, a section of the audience, especially women and local KRRS leaders, said their choice would be Ms. Suneetha.
Shivamurthy Swami of Murugarajendra Mutt and Veerabhadra Channamalla Swami of Nidumamidi Mutt also admired Puttannaiah’s struggle and contribution to the farming community.
Withdrawal of cases
Earlier, speaking to presspersons at Tubinakere, Mr. Siddaramaiah said a decision was taken to withdraw all cases booked against the farmers registered across the State.
He said the government has already ordered a high-level probe into the incident of attack on Lokayukta P. Vishwanatha Shetty in Bengaluru.
