Reddy objects to disparity in fund release for Bengaluru MLAs

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

KPCC Working President Ramalinga Reddy accused Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai of being biased in the release of funds among Assembly constituencies represented by the BJP and Congress lawmakers. This must be addressed in the interest of overall development of Bengaluru or else it will be called BJP MLAs’ Area Development.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, he said after the BJP government came to power in the state, it had released RS 9,888 crore for 15 Assembly segments represented by BJP MLAs and Rs 2,186.48 crore for the 12 Congresselected constituencies. The lone JDS-held constituency, Dasarahalli, has been given Rs 288.5 crore. By doing this, the BJP-elected Assembly segments had received five times more funds than constituencies represented by the Congress and JDS.

Reddy said the Siddaramaiah government had given Rs 7,200 crore for Bengaluru development and Rs 1,000 crore during the coalition government tenure for various works. The subsequent BJP government withdrew the fund and gave it away to constituencies under the CM Nagarotthana scheme.

The Congress leader said under these three schemes, Rs 821.75 crore was released for Bengaluru South constituencies like Basavanagudi – Rs 377.5 crore, Bommanahalli – Rs 915.83 crore, CV Raman Nagar – RS 485.93 crore, Chikpet – Rs 380.4 crore, Govindaraja Nagar – Rs 630.5 crore, Mahadevapura – Rs 752.85 crore, Malleswaram – 403.6 crore, Padmanabhanagar – RS 425.24 crore, Rajajinagar – 335.2 crore, Yelahanka – 665.56 crore, KR Puram – 926.7 crore, Mahalaxmi Extension – 527.25 crore, RR Nagar – 1,253.35 crore, Yesvantpur – 1,046.48 crore.

For Congress-elected constituencies, the government has released, Rs 232.84 for BTM Layout, Rs 253.39 for Byatarayanapura, Rs 136 crore for Chamarajapet, Rs 202.41 crore for Gandhinagar, Rs 196.84 for Hebbal, Rs 182 crore for Jayanagar, Rs 140.95 crore for Pulakeshi Nagar, Rs 225.52 crore for Sarvagna Nagar, Rs 159.75 crore for Shanthi Nagar, Rs 198.26 crore for Vijay Nagar, Rs 10 crore for Anekal and Rs 288.5 crore for Shivaji Nagar.