Ministers sing paeans, want Siddaramaiah as CM

The inauguration of a community hall in Bengaluru on Sunday witnessed leaders including senior ministers in the H D Kumaraswamy Cabinet pitch for Siddaramaiah to become chief minister.

Speaking at the inauguration of ‘Kanaka Samudaya Bhavan’ constructed under the aegis of Karnataka Kurabara Sangha, Backward Classes Welfare Minister C Puttaranga Shetty said he always considered Siddaramaiah as his chief minister.

“For me, Siddaramaiah is always the chief minister. I am indebted to him. It is because of him that I have been elected to the Assembly thrice,” he said.

Housing Minister M T B Nagaraj said Siddaramaiah should have continued as chief minister for a second term. “I have decided not to contest elections any more. My wish was that I become a minister and Siddaramaiah has fulfilled my dream,” he said.

Yeshwanthpur MLA S T Somashekar said Siddaramaiah will always remain his leader. “His contribution for the development of Bengaluru during his tenure as chief minister is immense.

The present coalition government has completed seven months, but grants for development of Bengaluru roads have not yet been released,” he said.

Somashekar claimed Siddaramaiah had to borrow loans to fight the Assembly polls from Badami and Chamundeshwari constituencies in May last. “He had to face defeat in Chamundeshwari due to a conspiracy hatched by his own party men,” Somashekar said.

Eshwarananda Swami of Kaginele Kanaka Gurupeetha said Siddaramaiah should become chief minister again and complete the various programmes he had launched during his previous term. He said the present government had not released grants for projects launched by Siddaramaiah.

Speaking on the occasion, Siddaramaiah said he had maintained “self respect” throughout his public life. “I had to face defeat (in Chamundeshwari Assembly segment) as some people who were jealous of me launched a disinformation campaign,” he said.

Siddaramaiah said he had sanctioned a medical college for the Kuruba community as chief minister but the project could not take off due to shortage of funds.