T S Srivathsa, the lone BJP legislator from Mysuru district, has accused the Karnataka Rural Development Ministry of unfairly denying funds to his Krishnaraja (KR) Assembly constituency by branding it as 100% urban. Speaking to the media in Mysuru on Tuesday, Srivathsa highlighted that, unlike other segments, KR was excluded from road development grants, even as Dasara festivities approach.
He pointed out that neighboring Chamaraja and Narasimharaja constituencies, also under Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) limits, received Rs 20 crore each. “I have raised this issue with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, and the Chief Secretary,” he said, demanding that Mysuru’s roads be made pothole-free before the celebrations.
Srivathsa also criticized the Congress government for alleged corruption, citing the Valmiki Corporation scam. He claimed Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi was accused of demanding kickbacks to release renovation funds for a religious mutt sanctioned under the previous BJP regime. “If ministers extort religious institutions, imagine the plight of ordinary citizens,” he remarked, demanding Tangadagi’s resignation.
On the state’s five welfare guarantees, Srivathsa said even Congress legislators are dissatisfied, quoting ex-minister Basavaraj Rayareddy questioning whether people prefer free rice or development. He noted that 4,000 lorry owners transporting rice are protesting over unpaid dues, jeopardizing many livelihoods.
Several BJP leaders, including city president L Nagendra and general secretary Cable Mahesh, were present at the briefing