Daijiworld Media Network - Kalaburagi (SP)

Kalaburagi, Feb 28: "We have discussed the matter that zilla panchayat (ZP) and taluk panchayat (TP) elections should not be held without OBC reservations, with the chief minister and the legal luminaries. But we cannot predict now when these elections will take place," said minister for rural development, K S Eshwarappa.

He was speaking to media persons. He told them that even after several rounds of discussions on holding the above elections, a clear picture about when the elections will take place has not emerged.

Speaking about the Mekedatu project, he mocked at the Congressmen for being confused about what can be done to resurrect the party's image. "When the Congress was running the government, they did not execute this project. Why?" he wanted to know. He blamed the Congress for using Mekedatu Padayatra as a political tool to further its interests.

"Congress is responsible for fomenting Hijab controversy and friction between Hindus and Muslims in Karnataka. They are playing politics to distance Hindus from Muslims. They want to pursue Muslim vote bank politics. In the past this party had lost power after indulging in breaking the people on caste lines. Now, by giving rise to Hindu - Muslim rift, the party is heading towards self-destruction," he analysed.