Freebies: No funds for devp this year

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said the Congress government in the state cannot provide for development this year because of financial constraints caused by the implementation of the five poll guarantees.

Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress President, said efforts will be made to ensure that the party legislators, who have huge expectations, understand the situation and remain patient.

Some Congress MLAs are said to be miffed and have complained to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the party leadership that they have not been able to get work done in their constituencies, and that transfers (of government servants) as requested has not happened.

However, Shivakumar and the CM have ruled out any disgruntlement within the ruling Congress.