Siddaramaiah releases Rs 50 crore to each MLA amid pressure over fund shortage

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has approved the release of Rs 50 crore in development grants for each MLA, following weeks of internal discussions and mounting pressure from party legislators who had complained of fund shortages.

The move comes after a series of one-on-one meetings that several Congress legislators held with state in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, where they expressed concern over the lack of financial support to carry out developmental work in their constituencies.

These meetings took place at the Congress party office in Bengaluru, where the legislators reiterated that the delay in fund disbursal was stalling key infrastructure projects in both urban and rural segments. Following the MLAs’ representations, Surjewala is learnt to have taken up the matter with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, during separate meetings held in Bengaluru and Delhi.

After several rounds of internal deliberations, the Chief Minister has now sanctioned the long-pending allocation, as was originally proposed in the state budget. Each MLA will receive Rs 50 crore towards constituency development, with the funds earmarked for infrastructure works such as roads and bridges.

On July 17, fresh concerns were raised again, this time by an Independent MLA supporting the Congress-led government. Darshan Puttannaiah, who represents Melukote in Mandya district, said the funds released were not enough to meet the needs of rural areas. Acknowledging the fiscal pressure of the five Guarantee schemes, he said there was a need to balance social welfare commitments with infrastructure development.

“You know the financial situation and why we are not getting funds. They have given money now but we need more funds. This is not adequate, you know how many villages don't have roads and drains. There are 236 villages and we need Rs 5-10 crore for each. It is going for that (Guarantees) as well. We have to give it to that (Guarantees) and give funds. Both can't be done together,” Puttannaiah said.

Last month, Congress MLA from Kagwad, Raju Kage, threatened to resign over prolonged delays in executing development works in his constituency, blaming the state administration for inaction. Kage expressed frustration that not a single work order had been issued, two years after the Chief Minister approved a Rs 25 crore special grant.

The MLA accused the state machinery of complete failure and said he was disheartened by the lack of progress. “I am so disheartened that I am even considering resigning. Don’t be surprised if I go and submit my resignation to the Chief Minister in the next two days,” he had warned.

The timely release of the grants is likely to ease discontent within the Congress legislature party, where some MLAs had publicly criticised the government’s delay. It is also expected to boost grassroots-level development in the lead-up to civic and local body elections across the state.

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