From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Chikkaballapur, Jul 3: Former BJP health minister Dr K Sudhakar declared on Monday that he will continue to fight for the people, stating, "I may have been defeated, but I am not dead."
Addressing a press conference in Chikkaballapur, he expressed opposition to the Congress government's decision to withdraw the previous government's order to split the Kolar-Chikkaballapur Milk Producers Cooperative Union (Kochimul). He argued that this move would be detrimental to the interests of farmers.
Dr Sudhakar threatened to launch an agitation in support of the farmers if the Siddaramaiah government fails to withdraw the order to split Kochimul.
He also launched an attack on Congress MLA Pradeep Ishwar, who defeated him, challenging him to take an oath in front of the Bhoganandishwar temple if he can prove that Dr Sudhakar did not issue an order for the grant of 20,000 sites. "If he has the guts, let him come to the temple and take the oath instead of launching a fake campaign against me," he said.
The former BJP minister mentioned that the BJP has improved its votes in the three districts compared to 2018 and 2023. He described the recent setback as temporary and asserted that the party will bounce back in the next assembly polls, winning 8 to 10 seats in the three districts of the region.
He further stated that 555 acres of land had been allocated for the allotment of the 20,000 sites, and he had personally convened meetings of grama panchayats to select the beneficiaries. He criticized the Congress MLA for being ignorant of this fact.
The defeated BJP leader urged the government to allocate sufficient funds for the Yetthinahole project's completion, the ropeway to Nandi Hills, and the completion of the medical college. He also emphasized the importance of providing the budgeted Rs 100 for setting up a hi-tech floriculture market.
Dr Sudhakar highlighted that Kochimul had been bifurcated from the Bengaluru Milk Producers Cooperative Union (Bamul), and after the split, milk production in Kolar and Chikkaballapur had increased from 1.5 lac liters to 10 lac liters. The previous Basavaraj Bommai government had facilitated this split and created a separate Haveri Milk Producers Cooperative Union, which included Chikkaballapur. However, the current government has now withdrawn the order.
He questioned why the milk producers cooperative union was separated when Chamarajanagar district was created and suggested that a similar separation should be done for Chikkaballapur, which produces 4.5 lac liters of milk.