In ULB poll, it will be a friendly fight between coalition partners: H D Kumaraswamy

Mysuru: Referring to the coalition partners, Congress and JD(S) taking on each other in the coming urban body elections in the state, Chief Minister H D Kumarswamy said here on Saturday that it would be a friendly fight. Mr Kumaraswamy was speaking to reporters during his visit to the Suttur Math with his wife, the first since he became Chief Minister, to seek the blessings of JSS math seer, Shivarathri Deshikendra Swami.

Responding to the BJP’s allegations of corruption in transfers of officers, he retorted, “Where has it happened? If they have proof, let them give it to us. Transfers are a regular annual phenomenon in any administration. Let them talk about the rules and policies they followed on transfers when they were in power.” On the rain havoc, he said officials had been directed to act on a warfooting to contain the damage.

“There has been heavy rainfall in Kodagu, Chikkamaglur, Kodagu and a few other regions. There is no shortage of funds for work on containing the damage. The model code of conduct (in force for the ULB polls) will not come in the way of the repairs. But it has stopped us from visiting some flood affected areas,” he added. Asked about the Rs 100 crore fund promised for Kodagu, he said, “Whether it is Mandya, Hassan or Kodagu, they are all the same to me. We are striving for comprehensive development of the entire state and have already released Rs 20 crore to Kodagu for dealing with the damage caused by rain. As it is still raining we will focus on basic infrastructure development work later.”