CM Siddaramaiah kicks off bypoll campaign at Bagalkot terming Centre ‘anti-people’ for not notifying tribunal verdict

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday alleged that the BJP-led Union government had an anti-people stand on the Almatti dam issue, and had failed to issue gazette notification on the final award of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (II) for the past 13 years.

The Chief Minister kick-started his election campaign for the bypolls by addressing a public meeting at various places in Bagalkot Assembly constituency, canvassing for the Congress candidate on Monday.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah taking a break while campaigning in Bagalkot on Monday.
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special arrangement

Mr. Siddaramaiah said even when the BJP was in power in the State for four years, no compensation was given to farmers.

However, the Congress government had begun the work after fixing compensation of ₹40 lakh for irrigated land and ₹30 lakh for arid land and would disburse the compensation amount within three years, he said.

The Chief Minister emphasised that it was because of the late H.Y. Meti. whose son Umesh Meti is contesting now, that the foundation stone for the Bagalkot Medical College had been laid, and soon a super-speciality hospital and a trauma centre would be established in Bagalkot.

Mr. Siddaramaiah said that the BJP did not act according to its words and not a single paise of farmers’ loans were waived. However the Congress government was helping the people who were affected by the pandemic through the five guarantees.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah campaigning for the Congress candidate Umesh Meti, in Bagalkot on Monday.
| Photo Credit:
special arrangement

The Chief Minister said that the BJP, which did not meet people’s aspirations when in power, was engaged in a misinformation campaign against the guarantee schemes.

The Chief Minister addressed election rallies at Sutagundar, Nayanegali, Rampura, and other places. Ministers R.B. Thimmapur, Byrathi Suresh and Shivanand Patil, and other Congress leaders accompanied him.

DKS campaign

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala will be campaigning in Davangere South, the other bypoll-bound constituency in Karnataka, on Tuesday, and later proceed to Bagalkot. Mr. Shivakumar will be campaigning in Kerala on April 5 and 6.