Siddaramaiah makes subtle outreach to Nanjangud, Gundlupet voters even as BJP fumes
BENGALURU: The fears of the Karnataka unit of the BJP have come true as chief minister Siddaramaiah announced programmes and schemes in his 2017-18 state budget that could influence voters in the April 9 byelections in Gundlupet and Nanjangud constituencies in his home-region of Mysuru-Chamarajanagar.
“He made six to seven points that affect the Mysuru and Chamarajanagar regions. He is definitely trying to influence the voters through his budget,” BJP spokesperson Ashwathnarayana told ET. “We will complain again to the state election commission on this issue,” he added.
Siddaramaiah announced an amount of Rs 3 crore to establish a study centre to “study the principles and ideas” of 12th century religious and social leaders “Manteswamy, Siddappaji, Rachappaji and other sharanas, who brought a revolution by striving hard to uplift the exploited and the downtrodden.” The study centre will also provide lodging and and other infrastructure for the devotees. The leaders mentioned all belong to the Chamarajanagar region and are revered by all, including the dominant Lingayat community of both Nanjangud and Gundlupet.
In another subtle political move, Siddaramaiah announced the setting up of the Karnataka Uppara Development Corporation for the “comprehensive development of the Upparas and their sub-castes.” The Uppara community is also dominant in the Mysuru-Chamarajanagar belt with an estimated population of 30 lakh.
Besides these, the CM also mentioned achievements like filling up of Hura and 25 other tanks in
Nanjangud taluk, modernization of the Hanagodu canal network in the region, setting up of a medical college in Chamarajanagar and others in passing, as a reminder of his commitment to his home-region. He also announced the modernisation of the 23.8 km Kollegal-Hanur road, which is in the same region as Gundlupet.
The BJP, in its memorandum submitted to the state election commission on March 10, had asked for restraints on the Congress government from making any populist announcements or schemes in the budget on March 15 on the grounds that it will influence the byelections to the Nanjangud and Gundlupet assembly seats on April 9.
BJP state spokesperson and MLA S Suresh Kumar had told ET: “We are not asking for postponement of the budget, as we are aware that it has to be passed before the financial year end of March 31. But we have said that there should be no announcements or schemes that could influence the voters in the byelections.”
“He made six to seven points that affect the Mysuru and Chamarajanagar regions. He is definitely trying to influence the voters through his budget,” BJP spokesperson Ashwathnarayana told ET. “We will complain again to the state election commission on this issue,” he added.
Siddaramaiah announced an amount of Rs 3 crore to establish a study centre to “study the principles and ideas” of 12th century religious and social leaders “Manteswamy, Siddappaji, Rachappaji and other sharanas, who brought a revolution by striving hard to uplift the exploited and the downtrodden.” The study centre will also provide lodging and and other infrastructure for the devotees. The leaders mentioned all belong to the Chamarajanagar region and are revered by all, including the dominant Lingayat community of both Nanjangud and Gundlupet.
In another subtle political move, Siddaramaiah announced the setting up of the Karnataka Uppara Development Corporation for the “comprehensive development of the Upparas and their sub-castes.” The Uppara community is also dominant in the Mysuru-Chamarajanagar belt with an estimated population of 30 lakh.
Besides these, the CM also mentioned achievements like filling up of Hura and 25 other tanks in
Nanjangud taluk, modernization of the Hanagodu canal network in the region, setting up of a medical college in Chamarajanagar and others in passing, as a reminder of his commitment to his home-region. He also announced the modernisation of the 23.8 km Kollegal-Hanur road, which is in the same region as Gundlupet.
The BJP, in its memorandum submitted to the state election commission on March 10, had asked for restraints on the Congress government from making any populist announcements or schemes in the budget on March 15 on the grounds that it will influence the byelections to the Nanjangud and Gundlupet assembly seats on April 9.
BJP state spokesperson and MLA S Suresh Kumar had told ET: “We are not asking for postponement of the budget, as we are aware that it has to be passed before the financial year end of March 31. But we have said that there should be no announcements or schemes that could influence the voters in the byelections.”
