Karnataka Congress MLA 'threatens to resign' from Assembly over delays in public works
Belagavi (Karnataka), Jun 23 (PTI): Bharamgouda Alagouda Kage (Raju Kage), the ruling Congress MLA from Kagwad, on Monday "threatened to resign" from the Karnataka Assembly, alleging "administrative collapse" in the state.
Speaking to reporters in Belagavi, Kage expressed frustration over delays in development work in his constituency.
"The administration in the entire state has collapsed. I am hurt. I am seriously considering resigning. It won’t be surprising if I meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the next two days and submit my resignation," alleged Kage.
He claimed that no development work has taken place in Kagwad for the past two years.
Supporting fellow Congress MLA B R Patil from Aland, Kage echoed concerns about "corruption and stagnation in public works".
"I stand with B R Patil. Whatever he said is true. It’s been two years since any groundbreaking ceremony was held in our constituency," he added.
Kage pointed out that although Siddaramaiah had earlier announced projects worth Rs 25 crore under special grants—including Rs 12 crore for road works and Rs 13 crore for community buildings—the work orders have not yet been issued.
When asked about the delay, he said, "I am equally puzzled." B R Patil had earlier alleged corruption in a government housing scheme, claiming that money was being collected from beneficiaries.
However, Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan categorically denied Patil's allegations.
Speaking to reporters in Raichur, Siddaramaiah said he would speak to Kage. He, however, clarified that there are no special grants or chief minister's grants
"People refer to all the grants we give as 'special grants'. But that's not the case. We provide special grants only where they are required," Siddaramaiah said.
Regarding B R Patil, Siddaramaiah said he has asked him to meet on June 25.
Commenting on Kage's charges, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra claimed in a post on 'X', "Corruption and loot are integral parts of the Congress administration."
Vijayendra said the Aland MLA B R Patil, too, has highlighted the condition where, even for sanctioning houses for the poor, bribes have to be paid, "thus exposing the shameful state of the government."
He alleged that the Congress administration "is haunting the state like a curse."
"Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who had earlier spoken low about the BJP’s agitation and the Janagraha Yatra, are now being answered by their party MLAs," Vijayendra claimed.
Further, he alleged that while there is a cold war going on for the Chief Minister’s post between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.
"Congress MLAs themselves have risen in protest against the corruption and lack of development in the state government," Vijayendra claimed.
"There was already a situation where people had to pay bribes for every government service at the constituency level, and now even MLAs have become victims of this bribery culture, as testified by MLAs B R Patil and Kage," Vijayendra charged.
With no grants available and unable to address people’s problems, Congress MLAs have reached a state of despair, he alleged.
"The wall of patience is beginning to wither, and many Congress MLAs are now joining the line with Patil and Kage. When ruling party MLAs themselves express helplessness at the corruption and looting within the government, it is clear that governance in the state has completely collapsed," Vijayendra claimed.
He also urged Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to immediately intervene and take a decision in the interest of the state.
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'Rear-guard action': BJP over Mamata accepting sports minister's resignation after Messi event
New Delhi (PTI): The BJP on Tuesday alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's accepting Aroop Biswas' resignation as the state sports minister is nothing but a "rear-guard action" to douse public anger over the mismanagement of football icon Lionel Messi's event last week.
BJP co-in-charge for West Bengal Amit Malviya alleged that this is also an "open confession" that the Messi event fiasco was not accidental but a government-manufactured disaster, borne out of the poor governance of Banerjee, her ministers and the state bureaucracy.
Banerjee on Tuesday accepted Biswas' resignation as the sports minister in the wake of the controversy over the mismanagement of football icon Messi's event last week, a senior leader of the ruling TMC said.
Biswas, who had written to the chief minister seeking to be relieved of his responsibilities as sports minister, will continue as a cabinet minister, retaining charge of the power department.
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Reacting to the development, Malviya said in a post on X, "TMC Sports Minister Aroop Biswas resigns after the Messi fiasco and Mamata Banerjee accepts it in record time."
"Do not mistake this for accountability; this is nothing but a rear-guard action to douse public anger. anger! This is not 'Raj Dharma'," he added.
The BJP leader alleged that the incident was the outcome of "loot" of common people which is "so synonymous" with the TMC.
The incident was also the outcome of the "shameless VIP culture that TMC thrives on and deep-rooted cronyism promoted by Banerjee," he charged.
Malviya further alleged that Biswas' resignation exposes a "collective failure of Mamata Banerjee, her partisan bureaucracy, and her crony cabinet".
"This is a symbolic sacrifice, a political hoax, soon to be buried under layers of bureaucracy, with no justice, no accountability, and no remorse," the BJP leader said, adding, "No resignation will bring back the time lost, the money wasted, or the stolen chance for football lovers to witness Messi in Kolkata."
