CM Siddaramaiah meets Congress MLAs for second day amid brewing discontent
Bengaluru, Aug 8: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday held discussions with Congress legislators from six districts amid reports of discontent brewing within the ruling party regarding development work in their constituencies and the functioning of the government and its ministers.
On the second consecutive day of such meetings chaired by the chief minister, he met separately with each of the MLAs from Raichur, Vijayapura, Koppal, Belagavi, Haveri and Kalaburagi districts.
On Monday, he had met MLAs from Tumakuru, Yadgir, Chitradurga, Bagalkot, Ballari and Dharwad.
"The chief minister held a discussion with ministers and MLAs of districts at the Home Office 'Krishna'. They discussed the development of respective constituencies, grants and preparation for Lok Sabha elections. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar was present," his office said in a statement.
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According to official and party sources, the MLAs discussed with Siddaramaiah about the allocation of funds to their constituencies and the fulfillment of promises made to the people locally ahead of the polls, other than the five poll guarantees.
The CM is said to have explained to the MLAs that the implementation of the five 'guarantee schemes' (poll promises) and the financial implications it will have on taking up major developmental projects this year.
However, he is said to have assured them that works that need to be done on priority will be taken up.
The meeting gains significance amid brewing discontent within the ruling party, with as many as 30 legislators reportedly having written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the party leadership recently, expressing concern over non-implementation of development works in their constituencies and the functioning of certain ministers.
Several legislators are said to be miffed and have complained that they had not been able to get work done in their constituencies, and have not been granted transfers (of government servants) as requested. They are said to have expressed unhappiness in the letter regarding some ministers, alleging that they are not cooperating with them.
The Congress Legislature Party meeting held subsequently, last month, also witnessed scenes of discontent, with senior MLA B R Patil threatening to resign, citing "self-respect".
The behaviour and conduct of certain ministers has upset some legislators, Patil had said, warning that their fight would continue if it is not corrected.
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Thumbay Group begins work on Sharjah’s first private integrated psychiatric, rehabilitation hospital
Sharjah: Thumbay Group has laid the foundation stone for the Thumbay Psychiatric and Rehabilitation Hospital at Sharjah Healthcare City, a 120-bed facility that the company says will be the region’s first private, fully integrated hospital dedicated to psychiatric care, neuro-rehabilitation and addiction recovery.
The groundbreaking ceremony was led by Dr. Abdelaziz Saeed Al Mheiri, who is also a member of the Sharjah Executive Council, in the presence of Dr. Thumbay Moideen.
Spread across 110,000 square feet, the hospital is being developed to address growing demand for specialised mental health and rehabilitation services in the UAE and the wider Gulf region.
The facility will include inpatient and outpatient services in psychiatry, neuro-rehabilitation, addiction treatment, child and adolescent mental health, and care for mood and anxiety disorders. It will also feature VIP inpatient villas designed to provide privacy and support long-term recovery.
A mosque, named the Thumbay Masjid, will be constructed within the campus and will be open to the public.
The hospital is being designed to meet standards for Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), an internationally recognised accreditation system for rehabilitation facilities.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Abdelaziz Saeed Al Mheiri said the project reflects Sharjah’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure in all aspects of wellbeing.
“Mental health and rehabilitation have long needed dedicated infrastructure, and we are proud to support a private partner whose vision matches the ambition of this Emirate,” he said.
Dr. Thumbay Moideen said the project was a response to a growing need for specialised mental healthcare services in the region.
“We have spent over three decades building healthcare in this region, and the one conversation that has grown louder every year is mental health. Families have been carrying this quietly for too long. This hospital is our answer. It is purpose-built, not retrofitted, and it has been designed around dignity, recovery, and outcomes that families can trust,” he said.
Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2026, and the hospital is expected to become operational by mid-2027.
Once completed, the facility will become part of Thumbay Group’s network of healthcare, education and diagnostic institutions across the UAE.
