Oppn grades state govt poorly on one-year report card

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy led the Opposition’s charge against the Congress State government as he criticised the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah geared up to celebrate its one-year anniversary.

Kumaraswamy made the comments at the JD(S) office in Bengaluru on Monday. Leader of the Opposition (LOP) in the Assembly and BJP leader R Ashoka also criticised the State government.

Both leaders focused on drought-like conditions that have prevailed in Karnataka since last year’s poor monsoon. The CM and the first members of his Cabinet were sworn in on May 20, 2023.

“There are still under the false impression that they’ll win 20 to 22 (Lok Sabha) seats. Has even one minister visited people after the elections concluded (in the state). Recently, Priyank Kharge (Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj) said that water had been provided to 2,000 villages despite scarcity of rainfall (over the last year). Under these circumstances, what should the State government have done? Have they stayed in the districts and alerted the officials? I didn’t see such an environment anywhere,” Kumaraswamy said.

Ashoka took aim at Siddaramaiah for the latter’s alleged failings.

“Siddaramaiah thanked the people of the state (earlier in the day). He has in fact thanked people for tolerating murders happening in the state,” he said.

“Perhaps, he is thanking people because he feels that his tenure is up and he is therefore bidding people farewell,” he added. BJP state president BY Vijayendra also criticised the State government.