Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday convened a meeting with the ministers to discuss the Parliamentary elections to be held next year and has set a target of winning at least 20 out of 28 LS seats.
Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said in the meeting attended by 19 ministers, the CM and his deputy D K Shivakumar discussed the severe drought situation in the state and no aid coming from the Centre.
There were no discussions on the issue of Chief Ministerial post in the state, he said and pointed out that the Congress high command has instructed not to speak on the issue.
It was said to be a breakfast meeting, party sources said.
"Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar had convened a meeting where 19 ministers were present. The objective was to discuss the parliamentary elections next year. All the discussions have taken place. Our target is winning 20 seats," he said.
Replying to a question on the confusion created due to ministers discussing in public forum the possible change of guard, he said, "There is no confusion about the CM and the Deputy CM. The high command has said that barring development work nothing should be talked."
"Since AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala directed us a few days back not to speak about it, there is no question of giving public statements. So, you (media) too should not ask such questions. You have to ask me only about development," he said.
Drought situation in the state also came up in the meeting, Reddy said adding that the ministers were told to work to face it.
In this context, he accused the Centre of doing nothing.
"Despite drought the Centre is not paying heed. It did not release even a paisa. During (assembly) election they (central ministers) were coming in hordes to seek votes, but now no one is coming though we are in severe crisis," he added.
Regarding the Congress direction to the ministers to submit ground reports about the possible candidates for the Lok Sabha election next year, Reddy said it was also discussed.
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Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday adjourned till December 10 the hearing on the plea seeking transfer of the investigation into the MUDA site allotment scam to the CBI. The plea was filed by activist Snehamayi Krishna doubting the credibility of Lokayukta investigation into the matter.
The petitioner told PTI that he approached the HC saying he has no faith in the Lokayukta police and hence the case should be handed over to the CBI.
In the MUDA case, it is alleged that compensatory sites were allotted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife in an upmarket area in Mysuru, which had higher property value as compared to the location of her land which had been "acquired" by the MUDA.
The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where it developed a residential layout.
Under the controversial scheme, MUDA allotted 50 per cent of developed land to the land losers in lieu of undeveloped land acquired from them for forming residential layouts. It is alleged that Parvathi had no legal title over this 3.16 acres of land at survey number 464 of Kasare village, Kasaba hobli of Mysuru taluk.
The Karnataka Lokayukta police and the Enforcement Directorate have launched an investigation into the 'scam'.
The CM has denied any wrongdoing in the alleged scam.