Karnataka - Bangalore

Congress wants Assembly polls

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

Close look: Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly N. Dharam Singh going through the Congress manifesto that was released in Bangalore on Wednesday. With him are KPCC president M. Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader D.B. Chandre Gowda (right).

Bangalore: The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Wednesday demanded elections to the Legislative Assembly.Speaking at a press conference after releasing the party manifesto for the urban local body in the presence of Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, N. Dharam Singh, and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, H.K. Patil, KPCC president M. Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the administration had collapsed and the coalition partners were busy keeping their MLAs together.

Mr. Kharge said development works had come to a halt. He demanded the resignation of Industries Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu following allegations that his son and brother-in-law had encroached upon government land.

Demanding that the Government order an inquiry into the allegations, Mr. Kharge said till Mr. Naidu was cleared of the charges, he should not hold be in the Ministry.As such, BJP MLC, G. Janardhan Reddy, had made serious allegations of corruption against Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy in the mining deal, he said and added that the coalition parties were indulging in mud-slinging, ignoring the welfare of the people.

In such a situation, he said, holding fresh elections was the only way out.

Mr. Kharge alleged that neither the BJP nor the Janata Dal (S) had the moral authority to rule.

Janata Dal (S) president H.D. Deve Gowda had made a hue and cry about land grabbing in the State and it had to be seen what he would say on land grabbing by a Minister’s family.

Mr. Deve Gowda, he said, had lost the moral authority to advise others on such issues.

The Congress has in its manifesto assured the people of clean drinking water, quality foodgrains, improved public distribution system and well-equipped health centres, particularly for the poor.

Mr. Kharge alleged that the coalition Government headed by H.D. Kumaraswamy, had not made use of Central funds to improve the living conditions of 27 per cent of people, who lived in urban centres.

The Congress leader said that the system of admission to schools and colleges would be made easier. Each city would have a central public library.

Each town would have an information centre on employment and training opportunities, hostels with Internet facility to students, playgrounds, swimming pools, community halls, parks with facilities for children to play, old age homes, day-care centres and health clinics for the aged.

There would be welfare programmes and sports events for the disabled persons.

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