Chitradurga (Karnataka), Nov 3 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said his government had sanctioned development projects worth Rs 2,200 crore through various departments for the Hiriyur Assembly constituency, where a bypoll is due.
Addressing a gathering at Dharmapura in Hiriyur taluk after laying the foundation stone for a new Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation bus stand, he said the government was committed to fulfilling the development aspirations of the constituency.
The CM said he had commissioned four surveys to identify the most suitable Congress candidate for the bypoll.
The Hiriyur Assembly seat fell vacant following the death of Congress MLA D Sudhakar, who was also the Minister for Planning and Statistics in the then Siddaramaiah-led government, in May this year.
The bypoll date is yet to be announced.
"My fellow ministers and I have not come to Hiriyur constituency empty-handed. We have brought Abhivruddi Lakshmi (Goddess of Development) to this constituency. We have issued orders for projects worth Rs 2,200 crore through various government departments," Shivakumar said.
He said Minister Eshwar Khandre had taken the initiative to ensure the implementation of the projects and that the government had prepared a list of road infrastructure requirements covering every town and village in the constituency.
Shivakumar referred to former MLA Poornima Srinivas and her husband Srinivas, who were present at the event, and said they had switched from the BJP to the Congress, recognising the party's role in shaping the state's future.
Recalling his association with late Congress leader D Sudhakar, the CM said he had visited the constituency with a heavy heart.
"My colleagues know how happy Sudhakar would have been to see me as CM. Just two months before his demise, he told me, 'It does not matter if I am not a minister; my friend D K Shivakumar should become the CM'," he recalled.
Describing Sudhakar as a leader who worked for people across caste and religious lines, Shivakumar said his government was striving to fulfil the commitments made to the people of the constituency.
He announced Rs 5 crore for the construction of a community hall for the Vokkaliga community and said grants would also be provided for community halls for the Golla community, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes, besides a Kanaka Bhavana.
"The Social Welfare Department has issued orders for the construction of community halls for all castes and communities," he said.
Shivakumar said the government had launched a scheme to distribute five lakh housing sites to landless people across Karnataka this year. Where government land was unavailable, private land would be purchased to provide sites, he added.
Applications submitted through the 'Praja Seve' (public service) initiative would be considered, while a special drive had also been launched to regularise property records and complete land subdivision processes, he said.
Highlighting the government's expenditure on agricultural power supply, the CM said the annual allocation for providing free electricity to farmers' pump sets had increased from Rs 22,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore this year due to higher consumption amid drought conditions.
"More than 200 taluks have been declared drought-affected. We understand the difficulties faced by farmers," he said.
The Dharmapura bus stand is being built at Rs 3.5 crore, he said.
Approval had also been granted for an irrigation project sought by people of the taluk, with tenders invited and water already released on a trial basis.
Shivakumar said the government had also taken a historic decision to fill lakes in the Dharmapura Hobli region to improve irrigation facilities and support farmers.
On the implementation of the Congress government's five guarantee schemes, he said the government had fulfilled its promises despite criticism from opposition parties.
"We have implemented all five guarantees—up to 200 units of free electricity for households, Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to women heads of families under Gruha Lakshmi, free bus travel for women under Shakti, 10 kg of rice under Anna Bhagya and financial assistance to unemployed graduates and diploma holders under Yuva Nidhi," he said.
Taking a dig at the BJP and JD(S), Shivakumar said the Centre had not released the Rs 5,300 crore announced for the Upper Bhadra Project.
"When Basavaraj Bommai was CM, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an allocation of Rs 5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra Project in the Union Budget. However, not a single rupee has been released so far. With what moral authority do they come here seeking your votes?" he asked.
He said the government was examining the demand for a separate taluk and that he had considered the population and hoblis that could be included in the proposed administrative unit.
Shivakumar said he would personally review the applications and grievances submitted during the programme.
"Hiriyur constituency is as important to me as Kanakapura constituency. I have pledged to serve you, and we will honour that commitment," he said.
"I am not someone who appears only during elections. I am here to stay with you and serve you. I have commissioned four surveys to identify the most suitable candidate for the by-election," he added.
Appealing to people of Dharmapura Hobli to back the Congress in the bypoll, he said: "Earlier, the people of this hobli gave Sudhakar 6,000 votes and ensured his victory. As his friend, I became CM and have worked towards the development of this constituency. This time, you must ensure that Dharmapura Hobli alone delivers at least 15,000 votes in the by-election."
Shivakumar urged people to take the government's development initiatives to villages across the constituency, assuring them that his government would continue to address the region's requirements.
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)