Karnataka Cong working president Ramalinga Reddy alleges govt’s ‘intention’ is to develop only BJP constituencies in Bengaluru
BENGALURU:
Voicing his party’s resentment at the ‘glaring discrimination’ in the release of development funds to Bengaluru MLAs, senior Congress leader and KPCC working president Ramalinga Reddy said on Saturday that ever since the BJP came to power in Karnataka, 15 BJP MLAs had been allocated a huge Rs 9,880.15 crore while 12 of his own party MLAs were allotted only Rs 2,186.48 crore. The lone JDS MLA (Dasarahalli) has been allocated Rs 288.5 crore.
The MLA funds are meant for works under the Amrut Yojana, Nagarothana and Storm Water Drain schemes.
Speaking to the media, Reddy alleged that while Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai claimed the funds were for comprehensive development of Bengaluru, the ‘intention’ was to develop BJP-held constituencies and not all of Bengaluru. Asking whether people who stay in Congress-represented assembly constituencies “are not paying taxes”, the senior Congressman said he would raise the issue in the Legislative Assembly on Monday.
Reddy said he had cancelled a planned protest outside the Chief Minister’s office after an assurance from the CM’s Principal Secretary that the government would look into the matter. However, he alleged, the ‘funds discrimination’ continues.
Funding friction
For BJP MLAs: Bengaluru South Rs 821.75 crore, Basavanagudi Rs 377.5 crore, Bommanahalli Rs 915.83 crore, CV Raman Nagar Rs 485.93 crore, Chickpet Rs 380.4 crore, Govindarajanagar Rs 630.5 crore, Mahadevapura Rs 752.85 crore, Malleswaram Rs 403.6 crore, Padmanabhanagar Rs 415.24 crore, Rajajinagar Rs 335.2 crore, Yelahanka Rs 665.56 crore, KR Nagar Rs 926.7 crore, Mahalakshmi Layout Rs 527.25 crore, RR Nagar Rs 1,253.35 crore, Yeshwantpur Rs 1,046.48 crore.
For Congress MLAs: BTM Layout Rs 232.84 crore, Byatarayanapura Rs 253.39 crore, Chamarajpet Rs 136 crore, Gandhinagar Rs 202.41 crore, Hebbal Rs 196.84 crore, Jayanagar Rs 182 crore, Pulakeshinagar Rs 140.95 crore, Sarvajnanagar Rs 225.52 crore, Shantinagar Rs 159.75 crore, Vijayanagar Rs 198.26 crore, Anekal Rs 10 crore, Shivajinagar Rs 248.52 crore.
