Congress win in bypoll means no development in Budhni: Shivraj Singh Chouhan's son
Bhopal: Ahead of the Budhni bypoll in Madhya Pradesh, a video featuring Kartikey Singh Chouhan, son of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has sparked controversy. In the video, Kartikey warns voters that if a Congress MLA wins the Assembly seat, “not a single brick would get laid in the constituency.”
This election marks Kartikey's first entry into the political arena, where he is leading the BJP campaign in Budhni, a constituency historically held by his father. During a public rally, he questioned supporters, stating, “If the election result is close, how will we face our leaders to ask for work?”
He continued, “If, by any chance, a Congress MLA wins here… then you realise who will suffer. Why would we harm ourselves? Don’t we have to go to our Chief Minister to get work done? Don’t we have to approach our honorable Agriculture Minister for our work?”
As the video circulated, former Chief Minister and Congress leader Digvijaya Singh responded, advising Kartikey to learn from his father’s experience. “In a democracy, both the government and the opposition work together to build the nation. I never used this kind of language,” he remarked.
Kartikey retorted, suggesting that the people of Budhni still feared the aftermath of Digvijaya’s decade-long tenure as Chief Minister. He stated, “If anyone is scared of anything… it is your ten-year rule, in which you left a state of destruction.”
BJP spokesperson Narendra Saluja defended Kartikey’s remarks, claiming they were intended to boost the morale of BJP supporters, asserting that “it would be difficult to get work done with a Congress MLA.”
The BJP has nominated Ramakant Bhargava for the November 13 Budhni Assembly bypoll. However, it is widely acknowledged that Kartikey is driving the campaign efforts, engaging with party workers across various levels.
Despite speculation about his political ambitions, Kartikey emphasized that he doesn’t seek a ticket for himself, stating, “I have been coming for 10-20 years… I didn’t get the ticket, I know. There is no guarantee I will get it in the future either.”
The Budhni campaign has already faced challenges, including discontent among supporters of Rajendra Singh Rajput, a former MLA, regarding the selection of Bhargava. Kartikey has reportedly mediated to calm tensions, claiming that Congress members masquerading as BJP workers were attempting to create dissatisfaction within party ranks.
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Karnataka to approach SC seeking permission to continue MGNREGA
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday decided to approach the Supreme Court seeking permission to continue implementation of MGNREGA in the state, contending that the Centre had repealed the rural employment guarantee law without consultation and failed to put in place any alternative mechanism under the VB-G RAM G Act.
Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said the state would immediately move the apex court seeking permission to prepare and implement the annual action plan for rural employment works, while also challenging what it described as an infringement on the constitutional rights of states.
The parliament passed VB-G RAM G in December that replaces MGNREGA.
Patil explained that the Cabinet decided to approach the court seeking permission for the State Government to prepare an action plan in this regard. Since the Centre’s stand interferes with the constitutional rights of state governments, the Cabinet has also decided to challenge this issue before the appropriate court
“There are two points here. One is that they have come in the way of our constitutional right of providing the right to work. That has been halted, and, therefore, the State Government has decided to approach the Supreme Court. The second point is that the Government of India has not provided any alternative,” the Minister said.
The Central Government has not yet issued a notification to implement the VB-G RAM G Act, nor has it made any alternative arrangements and hence continuing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is unavoidable in the public interest, the Minister said.
“Therefore, in the interest of the public, farmers and agricultural labourers, we must continue MGNREGA. For that purpose, the Cabinet has decided to approach the court seeking permission for the State Government to prepare the action plan for this year,” he added.
The Minister also said the Centre had only permitted continuation of pending and spillover MGNREGA works without releasing grants or announcing a fresh action plan.
“The Centre itself has said that pending, spillover and half-done MGNREGA works can continue. That means MGNREGA is actually still functioning in practice. But there is no new action plan,” he said.
Patil said the state had already passed a resolution on the issue, while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had written to the Prime Minister and the Rural Development Minister had held discussions with Union Ministers.
Replying to questions, the minister said the state would move court “as immediately as possible.”
He clarified that the state was seeking permission to formulate and implement this year’s action plan under the existing framework.
“What we are asking the Supreme Court is to allow us to have the action plan for this year and implement it,” he said.
The Cabinet also held detailed discussions on the final report submitted by the State Education Policy Commission headed by former UGC chairman Professor Sukhadeo Thorat.
Patil said a Cabinet sub-committee would be constituted to examine the report and recommend measures for implementation.
“No decision has been taken yet. The Cabinet sub-committee will recommend what should be accepted and what should be modified,” he said.
He said the report comprised around eight volumes and covered issues relating to financial implications, human resources, curriculum reforms, deemed universities, unitary universities and newly established universities. The Chief Minister has been authorised to constitute the sub-committee.
The Cabinet also approved the Karnataka Motor Transport and Other Related Workers’ Social Security and Welfare Amendment Bill, 2026, transferring welfare administration of transport-related workers from the Labour Department to the Transport Department.
The Cabinet further approved establishment of three new industrial estates in Kalaburagi, Yadgir and Surpur under the Karnataka State Small Industries Development Corporation and Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board schemes at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore.
The Cabinet also approved amendments to Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 2026, providing two per cent reservation in state civil services appointments for sportspersons.
