Karwar : Senior Congress leader and Haliyal MLA R V Deshpande stirred debate within his own party on Sunday after publicly stating that he would not have implemented the Karnataka government’s much-publicised five guarantee schemes if he were the chief minister.
Speaking at a public event in Dandeli, Uttara Kannada district, the 78-year-old former minister said the guarantees, while politically popular, have negatively impacted men and strained the state’s finances. His remarks come amid growing internal unease among Congress legislators about the fiscal sustainability of the welfare programmes launched by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s government.
“If I were CM, I wouldn’t have done it”: Deshpande
Deshpande, a veteran legislator serving his eighth term, was outspoken in his criticism. “The Siddaramaiah government gave five guarantees. Rs 2,000 every month to women—it’s a lottery for them. The situation of men has worsened. If men speak much, they will be punished,” he said, referring to the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, which provides Rs 2,000 per month to women heads of households.
Taking aim at the Shakti scheme, which allows women free travel in non-luxury government buses, he quipped, “Buses, oh my God! Women have left for Dharwad, Belagavi, Kalaburagi and Yellamma temple. Women are all over these places. If men board the bus by mistake, then his body will fall. These are all-women’s buses.”
Deshpande also questioned the logic behind implementing so many welfare schemes simultaneously. “God knows who advised Siddaramaiah. If I were the chief minister, I would not have implemented it,” he remarked.
Concerns over the state’s finances and development
The Congress MLA warned that large-scale welfare spending could affect development activities in Karnataka. “I don’t know what magic Siddaramaiah is doing. I am unable to understand,” he said, adding that constant handouts could create dependency and reduce funds available for infrastructure and public works.
The state government has allocated Rs 51,034 crore for the five schemes in the current fiscal year, drawing criticism from opposition parties and even some within the ruling Congress. Several legislators have reportedly expressed concerns that the massive welfare outlay has stalled developmental projects and constrained departmental budgets.
The five guarantees: A flagship but costly welfare drive
Announced shortly after the Congress returned to power in May 2023, the five guarantees were central to the party’s election campaign and are considered a key factor behind its landslide victory.
- Gruha Jyothi: Provides 200 units of free electricity per household.
- Gruha Lakshmi: Offers Rs 2,000 monthly to every woman head of a family.
- Anna Bhagya: Supplies 10 kg of free rice per BPL family member every month.
- Yuva Nidhi: Promises Rs 3,000 for unemployed graduates and Rs 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders aged 18–25 for two years.
- Shakti: Allows free bus travel for Karnataka women in government-run non-luxury buses.
Deshpande also noted that the government plans to launch an additional initiative — the Indira Kit — which will include tur dal, dry coconut, and cooking oil for families. “Even we don’t know what more he is going to give,” he said.
Internal dissent within Congress
Deshpande’s statement adds to a growing list of Congress MLAs who have voiced reservations about the state’s populist welfare approach. While Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has defended the schemes as measures aimed at women’s empowerment and poverty alleviation, critics within the party worry that the government is stretching its finances too thin.
Political observers say Deshpande’s comments reflect a deeper unease among senior Congress leaders who prefer a more balanced mix of welfare and development. The remarks are also being viewed as a sign of internal debate on the long-term political and economic implications of the guarantees.
A continuing debate on welfare vs. development
As Karnataka continues to implement the ambitious schemes, economists and political analysts remain divided on their impact. Proponents argue that the guarantees have boosted household incomes and improved women’s financial independence, while detractors believe they discourage productivity and strain the state budget.
With the Congress leadership standing firm on its flagship promises, Deshpande’s criticism adds fresh dimensions to the ongoing debate — one that could shape Karnataka’s policy direction in the years to come.