From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Channapatna (Ramanagara), June 24: “I am determined to serve the people of Channaptna irrespective of any criticism from anybody,” declared Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivkumar, hinting at his imminent contest from Channapatna assembly by-election.
Addressing a mass contact meeting at Kodamballi and Akkur in Channapatna, which is part of Ramanagara district, on “Government at the doors of people to solve the problems of people,” on Monday, he said the presence of large number of people at the mass contact programme was indicative of the unsolved problems of the region.
“I am not bothered about criticism from anybody. My only concern is solving the problems of people,” he said indirectly attacking Union Heavy Industries and Steel Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who vacated the seat after becoming JD(S) MP from Mandya, and also the former MLA C P Yogeshwar, who is the present BJP MLC.
Shivakumar said he had visited each and every village when he was MLA for Channapatna and was doing the same even now.
Without directly naming Kumaraswamy, he said that not a single site was distributed to any poor person of the constituency as he learnt at a recently held official meeting.
“Nobody has been given a house plot and no site allotment has been made site under Bagar Hukum cultivation. The Ashraya committee for selecting beneficiaries to build houses has not been held. I am not asking why it was not done. My only objective is to solve the problems,” he said.
“There is no point in becoming an MLA if a person is unable to solve the problems of the people,” he said promising to buy land and distributes sites to the people.
Shivakumar said 50 to 100 acres of land would be purchased by spending Rs 50 crore and create layouts for distribution of plots. “Channapatna will have our MLA (Congress) and at least 10,000 persons will be given sites,” he said.
Indirectly targeting Kumaraswamy for abandoning Channapatna to contest from Mandya and for becoming the union minister under BJP-JD(S) alliance, Shivakumar said: “I will not abandon Channapatna for the sake of power.”
Referring to Kumaraswamy’s comments to explain his achievements, the deputy chief minister said when he was power minister 18,000 farmers were distributed free transformers. “Will Kumaraswamy bring money from the Centre and distribute free transformers to the people of Mandya?”
He said his brother D K Suresh, as the MP for Bengaluru Rural had taken steps for distribution of free transformers and establish 10 sub-stations. Samudaya Bhavans will be constructed in all taluks, he added.
DK Suresh taunts HDK
Meanwhile, Shivakumar’s brother D K Suresh lashed out at Kumaraswamy for attacking him and his brother and said the JD(S) leader cannot sleep if he does not speak ill about them.
Respondong to Kumarasmamy’s remark asking people and officers not to become “slaves of DK brothers,” he said "Everybody knows how many times Kumaraswamy visited Channapatna and the works that he did. Let him stop uttering lies and mislead people. This is my personal opinion,” Suresh said.
Asked about the demand within the Congress party, especially by minister K N Rajanna, a strong supporter of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, that there is a need for 3 deputy chief ministers, Suresh said: “I don’t have any information. It is for the party and the high command to decide. I feel why only 3, it is better to have 5 deputy chief ministers.”
“Minister B Ramalinga Reddy has been eight-term MLA. Dr G Parameshwara has served as KPCC president for 8 years, KPCC working presidents Satish Jarakiholi, Ishwar Khandre, campaign committee Chairman M B Patil, Vokkaliga leaders Krishna Byre Gowda, Cheluvarayaswamy, Dinesh Gundu Rao, R V Deshpande, K H Muniyappa and several other senior leaders are there. It is better to give deputy CM posts to all communities and ensure social justice. Let the party high command decide,” he added.
On the Congress candidate for Channapatna, he said the candidate should be one who people want. “As Ramanagara district is our own district, my brother as KPCC president is looking after the needs of people of Channapatna, which is part of the district as the assembly constituency does not have a MLA now.”
To a question whether he will contest in the by-poll, Suresh said: “I have been rejected by the people of Bengaluru Rural and a month is over since the election. People have asked me to take rest and they want somebody else to serve them. It is their wish and democracy is supreme. I have to abide by the wishes of people.”
At the same time, he said he will extend support to any candidate chosen by the party.
Replying to a question on the sexual abuse case against JD(S) MLC Suraj Revanna, elder brother of former JD(S) Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, he said: “It is a matter of the H D Deve Gowda family. It is wrong on my part to speak on the issue. Law will take its own course. People are watching everything.”