BENGALURU: Even as Congress is trying to assuage its disgruntled MLAs in Karnataka, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday met Congress president Rahul Gandhi and discussed various issues for smooth functioning of the coalition government in the state. He is also said to have got Congress president’s nod for presenting a full-fledged budget.
Speaking to mediapersons after the meeting, Kumarasawamy said though it was a courtesy call, they discussed many important issues related to development of the state. Farm loan waiver too came up for discussion. The CM assured Rahul that the coalition government will implement the farm loan waiver scheme without violating fiscal discipline. The CM is under intense pressure from the opposition BJP and farmers to implement the scheme as promised in the JD(S) election manifesto. Rahul is also in favour of farm loan waiver, he added.
“Congress and JD (S) have joined hands to form a stable government and take up number of development programmes. Rahul Gandhi has extended full support to achieve that objective,”he said.Prior to his visit to the national capital, many disgruntled Congress MLAs, who have been left out from the ministry, had met the JD (S) leader. They, however, had stated that they had met the CM to discuss development of their constituencies and not lobby for ministerial berth.
Kumaraswamy said he did not discuss Cabinet expansion with Rahul as the Congress leaders will have to discuss it with their party MLAs and take a decision. The Congress leaders will sort of the issues within their party, he added.
Sources said the CM also got Rahul’s approval for presenting a full-fledged budget as some Congress leaders in the state were opposing it. On Saturday, Siddaramaiah had suggested there was no need for the CM to present a full- fledged budget and can only present a supplementary budget. The CM, however, had rejected the suggestion by stating that it is the responsibility of the new government to present a good budget to make its intent clear to the people of the state.
Upgrade Nelamangala-Hassan rd: CM to Centre
Chief Minister Kumaraswamy has urged the Centre to upgrade many highways, including the Nelamangala-Hassan highway. The CM, who met Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in Delhi on Monday, wanted an upgrade of Nelamangala-Hassan highway with service roads, widening of Tumakuru-Shivamogga road, development of Belagavi ORR and Sagara-Sigandur road. The ministry has approved highway projects worth `34,000 crore in the state. The proposals submitted by the state would need `570 crore for implementation, the CM said.