JDS leader Nikhil Kumarawamy addresses media persons in Vijayapura
MYSURU: Aiming to strengthen the JDS in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s home turf and work towards bagging major seats in the region, the party has planned a massive outreach programme -- Janarondige Janata Dal -- in Mysuru region from Wednesday.
At a press meet here on Monday, JDS leader and former minister Sa Ra Mahesh said State Youth Wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy will begin campaigning from Periyapatna on Wednesday.
Major interactive meetings and conventions will be held in Hunsur, T Narsipur and KR Nagar on February 22 and 25.
“People are already disillusioned with the Congress government. Even contractors have expressed objections and with this campaign, we are reaching out to people,” he said.
Mahesh claimed that the state’s debt has crossed Rs 7 lakh crore. Drawing comparison, he said former chief minister D Devaraj Urs had distributed land to the poor, whereas Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has burdened the state with loans. “The cost of living for common people has increased significantly,” he said.
Alleging widespread encroachment of lakes across the district, he questioned the functioning of the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), claiming that its vehicles, though in good condition, were auctioned off as scrap.
“Public work is not progressing in the authority. An RTI activist has been distributing sweets. What is the intelligence department doing?” he asked.
He urged the CM to pay attention to alleged irregularities in the cultural capital of the state. Referring to a recent appointment, he said despite having a CM from the district, a backward class leader could have been nominated to the Legislative Council, but instead the position was given to the CM’s son Yathindra Siddaramaiah. Mahesh also criticised the government for sending Congress MLAs on foreign tours despite financial constraints.
“There are no adequate funds for development works. Instead of controlling price rise, the government is organising tours and placing additional burden on people. All corporation chairpersons have been given cabinet rank. Even after three years, houses have not been provided to the poor. At least in his home district, let houses be distributed,” he urged.
MLA G D Harish Gowda said under Nikhil Kumaraswamy’s leadership, the ‘Janarondige Janata Dal’ programme is being organised in the district and the membership drive has already covered 9,000 km successfully. He appealed to party workers and the public to participate in large numbers in the campaign.