Air travel saves time, spent far lesser than ex-CM Basavaraj Bommai: Siddaramaiah tells BJP MLA
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah upheld his decision to travel by air on various occasions and to nearby places, arguing that it saved time and by putting before the Assembly expenses incurred by his predecessor Basavaraj Bommai.
Replying on the state budget on Thursday, the CM referred to BJP legislator H Vishwanath’s query regarding the money spent on his travel by air.
According to Deccan Herald, the senior MLA of the Opposition pointed out that while the CM was using a flight for a one-hour journey between Mysuru and Bengaluru, adding that the tax-payers’ money was used for the journey.
Siddaramaiah snapped at Vishwanath, asking if Bommai had not done the same. “Bommai had spent Rs 37 crore in 2022-23. Was that not extravagant?” Siddaramaiah asked the BJP MLA.
Presenting the figures before the House, Siddaramaiah said he had spent Rs 54 crore on air travel in the three years since he took charge as CM. He had spent Rs 12 crore in 2023-24, and Rs 21 crore each in the next two financial years, the CM said, challenging the Opposition to compare the figures with those of Bommai’s expenses on air travel.
The BJP members clarified that they had raised objections only to the special trips of Siddaramaiah to Chikkaballapur, which is situated barely 60 km away from Bengaluru, and not his trips to Delhi.
Clarifying from his front, the CM said he traveled by air to short distances as a chief minister had long hours of work and it was important to save time.
Siddaramaiah pointed out that the money spent by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on foreign trips was as high as Rs 814 crore.
In response, however, the BJP and the JD(S) members walked out of the house, expressing dissent over the state budget.
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TVK chief Vijay appointed Tamil Nadu CM, to be sworn-in on May 10
Chennai (PTI): Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Saturday appointed TVK chief C Joseph Vijay as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and and the leader will take oath on Sunday, the Lok Bhavan said.
The swearing-in of the Vijay-led ministry will be held on Sunday at 10 am here at Nehru Stadium.
Vijay was appointed CM after he presented letters of support from the VCK and the IUML who have two MLAs each. The governor held talks for about an hour over the requisite support.
According to a Lok Bhavan press release, Vijay was appointed the chief minister by Governor Arlekar as per the provisions of the Constitution. The governor also invited Vijay to form ministry.
Further, Arlekar asked Vijay to seek the vote of confidence on or before May 13.
The TVK chief met the governor along with Congress top leader K Selvaperunthagai and leaders of supporting parties including the CPI(M) State Secretary P Shanmugam.
Taking into account support from VCK and IUML, who have 2 seats each, the TVK's seat tally has now touched 120 in the 234-member Assembly.
