Will urge CM to withdraw poll guarantee schemes: M Laxman

Mysuru, NT Bureau: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson and defeated Mysuru parliamentary constituency candidate Congress M Laxman on Saturday said that he will demand that CM Siddaramaiah withdraw poll guarantee schemes as a number of people voted against the state government in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls.

Speaking at a press conference here, he said even though a large number of people benefited from the scheme irrespective of their economic and social backgrounds, voters in a way voted against the guarantee schemes.

“So, I will ask the CM to continue these schemes for only the deserving class and economically poor, those below the poverty line, not for all segments of society. The state government must cancel the Griha Jyothi scheme of free supply of power to all households.

"Right from the beginning of the implementation of poll guarantee schemes, opposition BJP and JDS leaders were against the implementation of these schemes.

"Even voters have also supported them. "The State Congress must cancel these schemes,” he said.

He also expressed his displeasure of voters for not supporting the CM in his home turf though he has done “commendable” works for the development of Mysuru during his different terms as CM.

He said that his party has given a ticket to eight Vokkaligas in Old Mysuru region constituencies, but all of them except one in Hassan were defeated. The party had given a ticket to a Vokkaliga 47 years back, but the voters failed to elect him.

Though a large number of voters of Krishnaraja and Chamaraja are from Assembly segments and benefited from poll guarantee schemes, they failed to prefer Congress candidates, he said.

He asked the party to introspect over the defeat of its party candidates and even sought a report from all district presidents on June 12. He said though he was defeated in the polls, he will be available for people daily at the district Congress office, even accessible to people of Kodagu to help the people seeking government benefits.

He asked newly-elected MP Yaduveer Wadiyar to bring more central funds and schemes for the development of the constituency.

As a lot of irregularities occurred in the National Testing Agency regarding the conducting NEET exams, he demanded a probe into these “scams” by a committee headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge.

He also thanked all party workers, the CM, MLAs, high command leaders, minorities, the SDPI and all progressive organisations for supporting him in the election.