Transform Kalyana Karnataka region like Bengaluru and Mysuru: Kharge
Yadgir (PTI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday urged Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar to transform the Kalyana Karnataka region -- which is considered backward in terms of development -- like Mysuru and Bengaluru.
Asserting that more funds have to be allocated for the development of the region, from which he too hails, the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, expressed confidence that Siddaramaiah will cooperate in this regard.
"During S M Krishna's tenure (as CM) he used to speak about transforming Bengaluru into a Singapore like city, you may do it. It will be enough for us if the Kalyana Karnataka region is transformed like Mysuru and Bengaluru. Like Siddaramaiah's Mysuru and D K Shivakumar's Bengaluru. This is enough for us, let's see Singapore later," Kharge said.
Addressing a large gathering here, he said, "I request you (government) to focus on this. Ensure job vacancies or backlogs, especially of teachers in the region are filled. Also allocate necessary funds."
Kharge was speaking at an event to lay the foundation stone for various development projects under the Arogya Avishkara scheme aimed at enhancing health infrastructure in the Kalyana Karnataka region, worth Rs 440 crore.
The AICC chief asked the public representatives and officials of the region to utilise the funds allocated for the development work at the earliest, and on the basis of that, seek more funds required.
"Despite getting funds, if we don't utilise it, no developmental work will happen. Utilise the funds. This year Rs 5,000 crore has been allocated for the Kalyana Karnataka region. It should be spent. Siddaramaiah and other ministers have complained that the funds provided are not spent properly on time. This should not happen and the local legislators, ministers and officials should ensure it and see to it that development reaches the people," he said.
Pointing out that the Kalyana Karnataka region lags behind in education and has a shortage of teachers, Kharge said the seven districts in the region are always ranked at last in terms of performance in education.
Also, filling up of job vacancies in the region is essential, he said. Law says that there are no financial impediments for filling up job vacancies in the Kalyana Karnataka region, especially teachers, he added.
Article 371J of the Indian Constitution grants special status to the Kalyana Karnataka region aimed at addressing the socio-economic and developmental backwardness there.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
ALSO READ: Cong candidate who moved Kerala HC for name reinstatement in voter list, wins
Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
