JOIN USManifesto based budget: Siddu
Chief Minister designate Siddaramaiah on Sunday said that his dream budget will be based on the manifesto of the Congress party.
Speaking to the media, after paying obeisance at the abode of Goddess Chamundeshwari atop Chamundi Hill, Siddaramaiah said that a priority-wise list of the promises made will be chalked out to bring them into reality.
To achieve that, the programmes will be implemented phase-wise by bifurcating them year wise; from first year to fourth year of the government. Preference will be given to agriculture, road, water and electricity to tone up the government.
Replying to media queries, Siddaramaiah said that he will review the economic status of the State after taking oath of office on Monday. He said that he prayed to the goddess, seeking good rains and bounty of crops and communal harmony, besides giving him strength to honestly implement the promises made in the manifesto, during the recently concluded Assembly elections.
To a query on cabinet formation, Siddaramaiah maintained that he will be going to Bangalore.
I’m also a Dalit
In an effort to placate the frayed nerves of Dalits, who have been vehemently protesting against the elevation of Siddaramaiah, ignoring their leader and Union minister for labour M Mallikarjuna Kharge, Siddaramaiah said: I am also a Dalit.
Taking side with the protesters, Siddaramaiah said: “Kharge should have been made the chief minister. But, it is the decision of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Hence, I have been given the responsibility.”
Going a step ahead, Siddaramaiah vouched for social justice, ensuring development of all, irrespective of communities.
On whether he could be sharing power with Kharge, Siddaramaiah shot back at a media person asking the latter, ‘Why do you guess like that?’
Writers invited
Chief Minister designate Siddaramaiah, who has always maintained good relationship with writers and progressive thinkers, especially in and around Mysore, has invited prominent personalities to be present at the swearing-in ceremony to be held at Bangalore on Monday.
Former president of District Kannada Sahitya Parishat (DKSP) Manasa said the CM-designate had given a list of some 60 prominent personalities, whom he wished to witness his swearing-in from the front rows.
However, some of them are not attending the ceremony due to health-related and other problems.
So, 30 persons are bound for Bangalore on Monday in two vehicles.
Writers Aravind Malagatti, Kalegowda Nagawara, H G Lakkappagowda, C P Krishnakumar, Malali Vasanth Kumar, Mailahalli Revanna, Horeyala Doreswamy, Kikkeri Narayana, Hi Shi Ramachandregowda, K M Jayaramaiah, G S Bhat, Nilagiri M Talwar and Sa Ra Sudarshan, thinkers Muzzaffar Assadi and Pa Mallesh, freedom fighter M N Jois’ son Jayasimha, DKSP president M Chandrasekhar, former DKSP presidents Manasa and Maddikere Gopal will be present at the ceremony.
Kith and kin for Bangalore
As many as 100 people left for Bangalore from the chief minister designate Siddaramaiah’s native place Siddaramanahundi in Mysore district on Sunday to attend the swearing-in ceremony scheduled to be held on Monday.
Prominent among them were Siddaramaiah’s nephew Siddaramu, former ZP member Kempeeraiah and Basavaraj. While another nephew of Siddaramaiah, Shivaswamy, is expected to leave for the capital during the early hours of Monday.
Some others have left on their own in cars, while many more boarded the night train from Mysore to Bangalore, scheduled to depart at 11 am.
Devanoora’s advice
Writer Devanoora Mahadeva on Sunday advised chief minister designate Siddaramaiah to study a book on economics to steer the State towards the path of development.
In his chat with Siddaramaiah, when the latter called on him at his Navilu road residence at Kuvempunagar in the city, Mahadeva asked Siddaramaiah to read a book ‘Small is beautiful: A study of economics as if people mattered’, a collection of essays by E F Schumacher — a British economist. He also had a piece of advise to his socialist friend to curb rampant mining and also real estate mafia for the better welfare of the State.