On Thursday, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa is set to lay the foundation stone for a slew of infrastructure projects at Hirekerur in Haveri district, represented by the now-disqualified legislator B.C. Patil, at a total cost of ₹110 crore.
In southern Karnataka, at Bookanakere in K.R. Pet constituency, from where the Chief Minister hails, disqualified legislator Narayan Gowda on Tuesday confessed that Mr. Yediyurappa had generously allotted ₹1,000 crore when he had sought ₹700 crore for developmental works.
Amidst protest by Congress legislators, who have seen allocation to their constituencies dwindle, the ruling BJP, which sits on a wafer-thin majority, appears to be spending steadily on constituencies that are set to go for bypolls. This is even as disqualified legislators, who it is learnt have been promised tickets by the BJP, are battling out their disqualification case in the apex court.
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The model code of conduct for the byelections scheduled for December 5 will come into force only from November 11, while the Supreme Court ruling on the validity of the former Speaker’s decision to disqualify MLAs is expected to be pronounced shortly.
In Hoskote constituency, earlier represented by former Minister N. Nagaraju (MTB) who is now disqualified, the Chief Minister launched the lift irrigation works to fill 30 tanks from the STP in K.R. Puram. He announced that he was not averse to the idea of extending the Namma Metro line to Hoskote, and also promised supply of Cauvery waters.
While the Congress and JD(S)-represented constituencies in Bengaluru saw a major decline in funding, the State government has increased funding to constituencies represented by the now disqualified legislators.
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Not much for Congress
According to the Congress, the funding to K.R. Puram, Yeshwantpur and Mahalakshmi Layout is around ₹2,778 crore, a disproportionate jump compared to average allocation in the constituencies represented by the Congress legislators. So much so that BTM layout legislator and former Congress Minister Ramalinga Reddy met the Chief Minister to ask for additional funds for the constituency.
Using his discretionary powers, Mr. Yediyurappa has released higher allocation to Vijayanagara constituency in Ballari and Maski constituency in Raichur, represented by Anand Singh and Prathap Gouda Patil, respectively. Sources said that funds from the Kalyana Karnataka Development Board has been enhanced for these constituencies as well.
Incidentally, all the 19 constituencies held by the BJP in Kalyana Karnataka region has received additional funding. Besides, Mr. Singh’s plea to create a new district, which initially received positive response from the government, was put on the back burner after being faced with opposition.
Chikkaballapur constituency, represented by disqualified legislator K. Sudhakar, got a medical college. The government decided to shift the proposed medical college and hospital from Kanakapura to Chikkaballapur with an allocation of ₹640 crore, which has been strongly opposed by Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar who represents the former constituency.
Also, the government is likely to announce Manchenahalli, currently part of Gowribidanur taluk, as a new taluk in Chikkaballapur. Sources said Mr. Yediyurappa is likely to announce 5,000 Ashraya homes on November 8.
Some exceptions too
But, not all constituencies going to polls seem to have got special attention from the BJP government. For instance, Yellapura Assembly constituency, represented by disqualified legislator Shivaram Hebbar, has not been allotted additional funds.
Athani, Gokak and Kagwad constituencies in Belagavi district that are going to polls following the resignation of Mahesh Kumathalli, Ramesh Jarkiholi and Srimanth Patil, respectively, seem to have not got special grants for developmental works. A large part of the constituencies were ravaged by floods, and currently the government is in the process of distributing relief. There are complaints of relief not reaching all the flood affected yet.
(With inputs by Girish Pattanshetti in Hubballi, Rishikesh Bahadur Desai in Belagavi, and Kumar Buradikatti in Kalaburagi)