B R Patil for Siddaramaiah as CM again

KALABURAGI: Former MLA from Aland B.R. Patil today joined the group of leaders demanding that former chief minister Siddaramaiah be made chief minister again. Speaking to the media here, Mr Patil, who is a close friend of Mr Siddaramaiah, said that he had provided very good governance and launched many welfare programmes for the people of the state during his tenure as chief minister. 

“But let there be no confusion, he has only expressed his desire to become chief minister again after the end of the term of the present coalition government. As Mr Siddaramaiah had provided good governance, he assuming office again will augur well for the state,” Mr Patil asserted.  Referring to the forthcoming Lok Sabha election, Mr Patil said he wanted to be the Congress candidate from the Bidar Lok Sabha seat. 

“I have no desire to become a minister in the state. But I would like to enter the Lok Sabha. I will request senior leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Mr Siddaramaiah to give me the Congress ticket,” he added. Mr Patil also alleged that the present Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Aland Subash Guttedar was trying to cancel many development works sanctioned during his tenure as MLA.  “Works amounting to Rs 600 crore were sanctioned during my tenure. But Mr Guttedar is threatening to cancel them as he wants to get hefty kickbacks from the contractors,” Mr Patil said.