Santosh Patil Suicide: K'taka Contractor's Association warns of stopping all govt work for one month
Says Health Minister Sudhakar most corrupt, even CM's office not spared from corruption
Bengaluru: In the aftermath of the suicide of Santosh Patil, a contractor who alleged harassment by BJP Minister Eshwarappa and blamed him for his death in the suicide note, the state Contractor`s Association on Wednesday accused the BJP of indulging in rowdyism and threatened to halt all government-contracted work for one month starting May 25.
"We will stop our work for a month in protest”, association President Kempanna announced.
Kempanna also added that the current BJP government in the state is the most corrupt government the state has ever had in power. He said even though they had evidence of corruption against the ministers in the state, they were unable to produce it fearing backlash from the BJP leaders.
He also said that they would produce all the evidence if an independent probe is carried out by a retired Supreme Court Judge in the death of Santosh Patil.
He also alleged that the CM’s office was also involved in corruption and despite them filing a complaint to CM Bommai, no action was initiated.
"For every work, we need to give 5 percent commission during the tender process. Corruption is rampant in the CM`s office. It is much more in the Health and Irrigation departments. If grievances of contractors are not addressed within 15 days, we will be forced to protest, the works will be stopped condemning the negligence of the government for a month from May 25," he warned.
"We are not blackmailing. Our allegations are true. Health Minister K. Sudhakar is the most corrupt and he is getting a 5 percent cut in every tender. The ministers decide the allotment of tender much before the tender process. For example, Rs 10,000 crore development works have been taken up in R R Nagar constituency of Bengaluru but the work is substandard," he maintained.
“Rural Development, PWD, BBMP, and Irrigation Ministers have their own agents. Even the CM`s office is not an exception. There are audio records on commission given to them. Minister Sudhakar`s family members are carrying out 60 percent work. His wife gives cheques for work. Son of a Chitradurga MLA has quit the medical profession to become a contractor,” Kempanna alleged.
Karnataka Contractors Association decides to stop all Government work for a month from May 25th. Say they are receiving threats. President Kempanna says Water Resources, PWD and Health are the most corrupt departments.
— DP SATISH (@dp_satish) April 13, 2022
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Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah accuses EC of ‘bias’, defends state guarantee schemes ahead of bypolls
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has accused the EC of "double standards" and "bias" after it sought details on the state’s guarantee schemes in Davanagere and Bagalkot districts, where bypolls are scheduled for Thursday.
In a post on 'X' on Wednesday, Siddaramaiah said the Election Commission of India had asked the Karnataka government for information on fund releases under five ongoing guarantee schemes in the constituencies going to polls.
The polls were necessitated following the deaths of senior Congress MLAs Shamanur Shivashankarappa and H Y Meti, respectively.
The schemes are Gruha Jyothi, which provides 200 units of free electricity to every household; Gruha Lakshmi, offering Rs 2,000 to women heading families; and Anna Bhagya, supplying 10 kg of rice per month to each member of BPL families.
In addition, Yuva Nidhi grants Rs 3,000 to unemployed graduates and Rs 1,500 to unemployed diploma holders aged 18–25 for two years, while Shakti enables women to travel free of charge within Karnataka on government non-luxury buses.
Siddaramaiah alleged that the ECI had remained silent when similar cash transfer schemes were announced in Maharashtra and Bihar ahead of elections, calling the scrutiny of Karnataka’s schemes a "clear case of bias".
"In states like Maharashtra and Bihar, cash transfer schemes were announced or fast-tracked just before elections, directly benefiting voters. Yet the ECI remained silent. This is not neutrality—it is complicity," he said.
The CM accused the BJP and NDA governments of "a double standard", noting that when they act, the ECI "looks the other way", but when Karnataka fulfils its promises, it faces "intense scrutiny".
He added that targeting the state’s guarantee schemes is "not just political but anti-poor, anti-women, and anti-Karnataka."
Siddaramaiah clarified that these schemes were not launched in connection with the bypolls but are ongoing programmes implemented as part of the Congress government’s commitments from the 2023 Assembly elections.
Funds are transferred regularly to beneficiaries in a transparent and structured manner, he added.
"The guarantees are part of governance—a direct investment in human dignity, household stability, and economic participation, not inducement," he said.
He also accused the BJP of "hypocrisy", saying that while it criticises Karnataka’s schemes as "freebies", it rolls out similar programmes in states it governs.
"The Karnataka model has set a benchmark for the country. What is deeply concerning, however, is the ECI’s selective approach," Siddaramaiah added.
