BENGALURU: After senior BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, it was the turn of Bengaluru MLAs, who, on Tuesday, charged chief minister BS Yediyurappa with step-motherly treatment in allocation of funds. They accused the CM of showing favouritism to a section of the ruling MLAs in Bengaluru in announcing outlay for development projects in their constituencies.
“As CM, you should treat all MLAs equally. Unfortunately, a few MLAs are getting a bulk of development projects,” Mahadevapura MLA Arvind Limbavali and Bommanahalli MLA Satish Reddy reportedly told the CM on the second day of his interaction with lawmakers.
You’ve been consulting only 3 people, legislator tells CM at meeting
They expressed displeasure that they have been overlooked while drawing up projects for the city. “You’ve been consulting only three people — BDA chairman SR Vishwanath, deputy chief minister CN Ashwath Narayan and minister R Ashoka,” said a legislator.
Reddy reportedly said: “If you take unilateral decisions based on inputs from select MLAs and bureaucrats, what are we here for?”
Limbavali reportedly requested the chief minister to keep the latter’s son off the government’s affairs, besides curbing the role of middlemen, who are “seeking cuts for every project on behalf of others”.
Sources said that Yediyurappa remained mum and did not react to the allegations. In his opening remarks, the CM had said: “I’m sure Bengaluru MLAs do not have any problems considering a substantial allocation has been made to them in the previous financial year.”
Earlier in the day, Hosadurga MLA Goolihatti Shekar said though many MLAs are upset with the CM for not granting enough funds for their constituencies, they are not openly expressing it out of fear that they could be targeted.
“Damned if we do, damned if we don’t. If we speak against ministers, bureaucrats, or those in power, we may not get funds. If we do not speak, then our constituency allocation is cut. Plus, if we speak of our disappointment, then our words could be misinterpreted and we are served with disciplinary action by the party,” he added.