PIL questions misuse of 'Sadhana Samavesha' for CM's interests

Rallies, organised with state funds, not highlighting govt schemes

A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the High Court of Karnataka, questioning the misuse of state funds by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for his political interests during the ongoing 'Sadhana Samavesha' rallies.

According to the petition, the objective of the rallies is to highlight the public welfare schemes of the state, but the chief minister is using it for his party's campaign.

The petition says, as part of the rally, Siddaramaiah is travelling only to those places, from where members of the ruling party have been elected to the Assembly.  

The petition filed by Keertivardhan Joshi, a student of the Karnataka State Law University, states that the ruling party is using public money to fulfil its political objectives.

The Sadhana Samavesha is a series of rallies and programmes that have been organised across several Assembly constituencies with the aim of highlighting the achievements and welfare schemes of the government. A considerable amount of money has been spent for the rallies.

According to the petitioner, instead of highlighting the schemes of the government, the ruling party is using state funds for its campaign.

The petition says the ruling party has used the 'Sadhana Samavesha' rallies as a platform to highlight the shortcomings of the opposition parties in the speeches of its leaders. The public gathered at such events could easily be misled that they are party meetings, instead of state events meant for public welfare.

The petition seeks directions to the government and the principal secretary, department of finance, to stop the grant of further funds to 'Sadhana Samavesha' and declare the ongoing rallies as illegal and unlawful.