Karnataka power tussle | 'Will abide by decisions of Congress high command', says CM Siddaramaiah

Udupi: Karnataka Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday reiterated that he will abide by the decisions of the Congress high command, amid ongoing discussions over cabinet expansion in the state.

To a query on reports that supporters of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar had approached the party high command, the Chief Minister said he would not comment on internal political matters. “We will abide by whatever the high command decides,” he told media people.

Responding to a query on first-time MLAs aspiring for ministerial position, he said there is nothing wrong in such aspirations. However, he said a decision was earlier taken not to appoint first-time legislators as ministers. “There is nothing wrong in them making a request,” he added.

Referring to the protest by job aspirants in Dharwad, the Chief Minister said providing employment is one of the government’s key assurances. He attributed delays in recruitment to the issue of internal reservation, adding that the process has now begun.

“We will make announcements in the Budget and fill vacancies in phases,” he said, noting that over 2.5 lakh posts are currently vacant and will be filled gradually, he added.

Siddaramaiah said that the state government is committed to eliminating drug menace and making Karnataka a drug-free state, even as he acknowledged that efforts taken so far have not fully succeeded.

On human-animal conflict, referring to elephant attacks reported from Chikkamagaluru, the Chief Minister said the increasing population of elephants, along with tigers and leopards, has resulted in wildlife frequently entering human habitation areas. He said the government plans to erect barricades along forest boundaries and constitute a task force.

Commenting on the controversy surrounding the Parashurama Theme Park project, Siddaramaiah said that the project would be completed.

Regarding the proposed tunnel road project at Agumbe, he said environmentalists would be consulted, their concerns and issues will be resolved through dialogue.

On the alleged attack by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) at Azim Premji University, the Chief Minister said no individual or organisation would be allowed to take the law into their own hands.

“Whether it is ABVP or any other organisation, strict action will be taken. We will not tolerate unlawful acts,” he said.

Dismissing reports of a shortage of medicines in government hospitals, Siddaramaiah said there is no such shortage and that no hospital is facing any difficulty.