D.K. Shivakumar, Minister for Water Resources and district in-charge, chided the Reddy brothers and B. Sriramulu for not being able to identify a party worker to be fielded in the elections to Lok Sabha from Ballari Parliamentary constituency.

He was addressing a convention of Congress and JD(S) workers, the first public meeting organised after elections to the Lok Sabha was announced, here on Sunday.

“My friend Sriramulu has not been able to identify a party worker to be fielded in the elections to Lok Sabha and has ‘hooked’ Y. Devendrappa of the Congress to be fielded as BJP candidate,” he said.

According to him, Mr. Devendrappa had approached him earlier to consider his candidature during the byelection to Lok Sabha, to which, after enquiring his educational qualification, he had made it clear that Congress was keen to field a person who could be the voice of Ballari, State and nation. “I would like to ask Sriramulu ‘anna’ whether his party candidate could speak effectively in the Lok Sabha,” he said.

Without disclosing the name, Mr. Shivakumar said, “I have been receiving phone calls from officials stating that an officer in the Excise Department, related to Devendrappa, has directed the bars to contribute for the election of Devendrappa. In turn, I have given strict instructions to the officials not to give scope for any kind of ‘wasooli’ (collection). Officials have also been instructed to strictly follow the rules in utilising the funds for developmental works and maintaining proper records,” he added.

Mr. Shivakumar said that he and the coalition government were making all efforts to generate employment opportunities in the district, where a large number of people were facing unemployment. “Our government has initiated steps to set up textile park in the district and construct houses for the poor and economically weaker sections. As the minister in-charge, I am satisfied with the initiative and will continue to ensure overall development of the district,” he added.

He exhorted the party workers not to forget support extended by the BJP in the byelection and planned to approach the party again to get the support doubled.