'Karnataka will get a fair deal'

The four Union ministers from the State inducted into the Narendra Modi Cabinet on Friday were unanimous in their opinion that the Centre will not discriminate against Karnataka just because it is ruled by the Congress.

Speaking at a well-attended felicitation function at the Palace Grounds organised by the BJP for the 17 MPs elected from the State, the Union ministers - M Venkaiah Naidu, a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, D V Sadananda Gowda, Ananth Kumar and G M Siddeshwara, all newly elected to Lok Sabha - said the Modi government will not view Karnataka as a State run by the Congress but will strive to work for the welfare of six crore people of the State. 

Naidu, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, will retire as RS member in 2016. This is the third time he has been RS member from Karnataka. 

The four ministers were welcomed at the Bangalore airport by hundreds of workers and leaders. The mood was jubilant at the airport as well as the Palace Grounds. The ministers thanked the people of the State for their support during the Lok Sabha polls and it was now their turn to return the favours. The party cadre, who attended the function, were in a celebratory mood. 

They cheered as the  ministers stood to speak. The  ministers were flooded with bouquets after the function. In all, the good performance by the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls, seem to have brought in an atmosphere of revival in the party. 

Earlier in the day, the ministers were given a warm reception by the party cadre when they landed at Kempegowda International Airport, their first visit to Bangalore after being sworn in as ministers.

Naidu, who holds the Urban development portfolio, said the Centre would ensure all the promises made in the party’s election manifesto would be implemented. Naidu said his ministry would soon chalk out a special initiative plan for the development of Bangalore city.

Gowda, who holds the Railways portfolio, said he would involve himself in preparing a good railway budget for the country. He indicated that the budget could be presented in first week of July.

Ananth Kumar, who holds the chemicals and fertilizers portfolio, said Siddaramaiah government should not have any inhibitions in approaching the Centre for special funds. Former chief minister Jagadish Shettar and former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa spoke about a change in political scene in the State in three to four months.

Eshwarappa claimed that the “infighting” in the Congress would ultimately lead to the fall of the government. Shettar said Assembly constituency-wise break-up of the Lok Sabha polls has showed that the BJP had secured leads in 136 constituencies, the Congress in 72 and the JD(S) in 16. “People had voted for a change at the Centre and would also seek a change in the State,” he said.

Former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa said the party had done well by securing 17 seats. “We could have secured three more seats if we had put in a little more efforts in Raichur, Chikodi and Chikkaballapur,” Yeddyurappa said and added that the party should strive to win the two graduates’ and two teachers’ constituency seats to the Legislative Council going to polls next month.