Kalaburagi: Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa's 'magnanimity' towards some disqualified legislators of the recently renamed 'Kalyana Karnataka' region (earlier Hyderabad-Karnataka), has drawn flak from the opposition Congress and JD(S) legislators.
The CM recently issued an order, modifying the earlier one while allocating more grants to two disqualified Congress legislators -Anand Singh (Hosapete) and Pratapgowda Patil (Maski), who have resigned from the Congress, from his discretionary quota under the Hyderabad Karnataka Region Development Board. Both have been sanctioned Rs 11 crore each.
Previous CM H.D. Kumaraswamy had on July 17 allotted Rs 75 crore to all 40 legislators of the region. But Mr Yediyurappa, while cancelling the earlier allocation, allotted the funds to only 16 BJP legislators and the disqualified Congress legislators, who have shown an inclination to join the BJP. Of the 40 legislators in the region, 16 belong to the saffron party.
The Raichur legislator has been sanctioned Rs 4 crore, Kalaburagi South and Ballari City legislators have been allotted Rs 3.5 crore each and the rest, have been sanctioned Rs 3 crore each but the disqualified legislators have walked away with a bigger share. Political observers feel Mr Yediyurappa has been more than considerate towards the Hosapete and Maski rebel MLAs as these two constituencies are likely to face by-elections depending on the Supreme Court verdict in the disqualification case. Bhalki MLA and Working President of KPCC Eshwar Khandre has taken exception to CM’s action alleging it violated all norms. “Mr Yediyurappa is the CM for the entire state and not just for his party legislators. He should care for the welfare of the people of the entire region and not just about the constituencies of BJP legislators. Mr Yediyurappa should withdraw the order and issue a fresh one ensuring justice for all legislators irrespective of their party affiliations", Mr Khandre demanded.
However Sedam BJP MLA Rajkumar Patil Telkur defended the action of the CM.
