Bengaluru:  Amid reports that several BJP legislators were aggrieved about allocations for north Karnataka region in the state budget and were planning for a meeting next week, Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan on Saturday said there was no such disgruntlement and there was no place for any indiscipline in the party.

"One thing- there is no question of any kind of disgruntlement within the BJP, there is no opportunity for such things in our party.

Ours is a disciplined party, so there is clear message that there is no place for such things," Narayan said in response to a question about some disgruntled legislators planning for a meet next week.

Speaking to reporters at the BJP office here, he said if anyone has any issues or concerns, there is party state president, Chief Minister, anyone can talk to them and get things resolved.

"There is no question of any indiscipline, there is no question of any disgruntlement.

All are one in the party...," he said, and defended the budget stating that the Chief Minister had given a "good budget" in the given situation.

Senior BJP legislators like Umesh Katti, who has been sulking over being left out of the recent ministry expansion, has openly expressed displeasure about allocations for north Karnataka region in the budget.

Speaking to a section of media, Katti, citing allocations for irrigation projects to the region, said if there is injustice to north Karnataka, there is need to raise voice.

According to reports, amid such disgruntlement, the Chief Minister is said to have asked his party legislators not to behave like opposition and give him some time, while highlighting economic difficulties faced by the state.

Presenting the budget in the assembly, Yediyurappa on Thursday said Karnataka was facing unprecedented economic difficulties following reduction in the state's share in central taxes, among other things.

Narayan also rubbished reports about alleged dissidence activities by BJP leader C P Yogeshwar and said there was no question of anyone from the party indulging in any such activities.

"No such activities can happen in our party, there are no issues, no one can do any such things," he added.

To a question on another round of cabinet expansion after the ongoing assembly session, Narayan said the state unit president and Chief Minister have expressed their desire for expansion to fill the vacancies, and it will be done.

The cabinet currently has 28 members and six berths are still vacant.

Yediyurappa said recently he may induct three new ministers into the cabinet in April.

 

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Kalaburagi: An incident involving a swamiji firing a gun into the air has been reported from Udachan village in Afzalpur taluk of Kalaburagi district. The act, captured on video, has since gone viral on social media.

The swamiji has been identified as Sri Shantalinga Shivacharya, pontiff of the Hiremath of Sri Shankaralingeshwara Samsthana. According to reports, the incident took place on Sunday evening within the premises of the math, where the swamiji allegedly fired a single-barrel gun into the air.

This is not the first time the swami has courted controversy. Last year, he was reportedly found driving erratically under the influence of alcohol in Salotagi village of neighbouring Indi taluk, following which members of the public confronted him. He later fled from the math, sources said.

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More recently, during the annual fair of the Sri Shankaralingeshwara Math in Udachan village, the swami had arrived at the village with police protection, claiming to be the rightful pontiff of the math. Despite opposition from villagers, he reportedly went ahead and conducted rituals related to the fair.

The latest incident of firing the gun into the air has triggered criticism, especially after the video surfaced online. Further action, if any, is awaited from the authorities.