Aero India being shifted to UP due to 2019 polls: HDK

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said that the Defence ministry was shifting the world-renowned Aero India show (being held in Bengaluru so far), to Lucknow this year with the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in mind.

Speaking to reporters at the Hubballi airport here on Sunday, before taking part in the inauguration of a new taluk court complex; along with Chief Justice of India Dipak Mishra, the CM alleged that the venue was being shifted to Lucknow as BJP has a firm voter base in Uttar Pradesh.

"Aero India is synonymous with Bengaluru; and our city has all the infrastructure required to host the show. Yet it is being shifted to Lucknow," he remarked. Kumaraswamy however said he had not received any official communication from the Defence minister in this regard.

Shifting KSHIP offices south

Kumaraswamy, said the decision to shift Karnataka State Highways Improvement Project (KSHIP) offices in Belagavi to Hassan and Madikeri, was taken by the Public Works, Port & Inland Water Transport Department (PWP & IWTD) department; and not by state government.

"The departments which have completed World Bank projects have been shifted to Hassan," the CM noted. He did not deny more shifting of offices down south. "The concerned departments will take those decisions," he added.

Kumaraswamy, who visited Hubballi for first time after becoming chief minister, said that he would tour north Karnataka villages and towns after the restrictions of the model code of conduct for urban local body elections are lifted.