Will develop Chamundeshwari on the lines of Varuna: Siddaramaiah

Mysuru: Giving a clear indication that he would leave his present Assembly seat, Varuna, to son Dr Yathindra, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he will treat Chamundeshwari like his home constituency, hinting that he may return to the place from where he started his political career.

The CM was speaking after launching 15 programmes worth Rs 115 Crores including the foundation stone laying ceremony of an ITI, launch of drinking water supply to 11 villages including seven in Mysuru taluk and four in Nanjangud taluk, at Beerihundi in Chamundeshwari on Monday.

According to close aides of the CM, he was earlier planning to field son Rakesh from Varuna. Rakesh passed away earlier this year and now, Mr Siddaramaiah wants his second son Dr Yatindra to fight from Varuna so that he can shift to Chamundeshwari. Responding to the popular demand to contest from Chamundeshwari, he said he would decide after one and a half years when the elections would be due.

On former minister Mr V. Srinivasprasad’s claim that he helped the CM win the Chamundeshwari by-election in 2006, Mr Siddaramaiah said, “You have helped me win five assembly elections since 1983. With just one person, it would not have been possible. You gave me political rebirth in the Chamundeshwari byelection in 2006. Without your blessings I would not have become CM today. So your love towards me is very precious. I am indebted for your love,” he quipped.  On the drought situation, the CM said both the South-West and North-East Monsoons have failed. So far 110 taluks in the state have been  declared drought hit. “We have sought Rs 4,000 crore drought relief funds from the Centre as per NDRF norms in our first memorandum. The drought assessment team from the Centre has already visited the state. We are declaring 29 more taluks as drought hit and submitting a second memorandum to the Centre seeking more funds. We are taking up drought relief measures to prevent migration. Distribution of rice, ragi and Jowar under Anna Bhagya scheme has helped prevent migration too,” Mr Siddaramaiah said.