From our special correspondent
Daijiworld media network

Bengaluru, Dec 30: Congress party workers and legislators will get equal share in the appointments to Boards and Corporations, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters at his Sadashivanagar residence, he said, "Party workers will get their due share in the appointments to Boards and Corporations. All the leaders in the party will sit and discuss this. The list is finalised to some extent. The central leaders have made certain promises, it needs to be discussed. The list is likely to be finalised by Sankranthi.’’

Shivakumar, who is also the KPCC Chief, said the Congress government would do justice to both party workers and legislators.

Government at Your Doorstep

People are coming to our doorsteps with their grievances, we have decided to take the government to their doorstep through the 'Government at Your Doorstep' programme, he said.

"Through this programme, we would like to address the grievances of all the 28 constituencies in Bengaluru by January. Two to three assembly constituencies will be covered at a time," he said, adding that the respective local MLAs and MPs have been invited to participate in the programme.

Lok Sabha preparatory meeting on Jan 10

Replying to a query on Lok Sabha elections preparations, Shivakumar said he would hold a preparatory meeting with party leaders, MLAs and AICC leaders on January 10.

Asked about his visit to New Delhi on January 4, he said, "There is a meeting regarding the Lok Sabha elections. Ministers have given reports about candidate selection. A survey needs to be done about it. We are going to Delhi to discuss that."

To a question on the cheque bounce case of Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa, he said, "Things happen in business. I will look into it."

Allocation of funds for minorities

Questioned about allocation of Rs 1000 crore for minorities, Shivakumar said, "I will take you to Ramanagara, you can see for yourself the condition minorities. This decision has been taken to improve their livelihoods. If Rs 1000 crore is divided among 224 assembly constituencies, it is not much. Minorities mostly live in urban areas and they don't have the benefit of MGNREGA scheme. There is nothing wrong in it."
Shivamkumar dismissed BJP's criticism that the funds allocation is minority appeasement, he said, "Let them keep complaining and we will continue to work for the poor."

On his meeting with Chandrababu Naidu, he said, "I did not go to Andhra Pradesh to meet him, I happened to meet him at the airport. It was a courtesy meeting."