From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Dec 2: With the counting of votes for four of the five States which went to assembly polls scheduled to be held on Sunday, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is acknowledged as the Congress party’s troubleshooter, said he will be leaving for Telangana in view of the counting of votes.

Even as the Congress party is poised to wrest Telangana from the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) of K Chandrashekar Rao, which has been in power for 10 years, if the findings of the Exit Polls are to be believed, it is understood that the Congress party has entrusted the responsibility of shepherding the newly elected party legislators.

Shivakumar, who is also the State Congress President, however, did not give any reason for his Telangana visit.

``I will discharge whatever responsibilities assigned to me by the party,’’ he cryptically remarked when media persons asked him if his Telangana visit is in view of the counting of votes on Sunday.

Shivakumar said the Congress leaders from Telangana had worked for the Congress party in the State during the assembly elections and as a loyal party worker he has to go to Telangana.

Asked if Congress party is worried that the party MLAs might be faced with the problems of poaching or other inducements, Shivakumar said: ``We are not worried about anything. We know our leaders and all candidates. They are loyal to the party. Our MLAs will not ditch the party. I am being regularly informed about attempts to lure our MLAs. I am going there to lend moral support.’’

Meets Israel Envoy to India

Earlier, in the morning, he held a cordial discussion with the Israel envoy to India Ms Tomi ben Haim at his residence.
Later, he visited his assembly constituency of Kanakapura to meet the people in a Mass Contract Programme.
Shivakumar said he is leaving for Telangana after the Kanakapura mass contract programme. He said he has to be in the State to attend the 10-day State Legislature session commencing in the Belagavi Suvarna Vidhana Soudha from Monday.

Don’t Give even a Rupee bribe

Kanakapura: Addressing the mass contact programme at Kanakapura, the Deputy Chief Minister asked the people ``not to give even a single rupee bribe to any government official and if somebody demands bribe, give a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner and action will be taken.’’

Shivakumar said if revenue and panchayat officials or any other officials demand bribes and other illegal gratification the people should immediately contact the Deputy Commissioner or other officials by phone and follow up with a written complaint. ‘’Action will be taken,’’ he assured.

He said all properties and agricultural lands in Kanakapura and Ramanagara will be digitised as is being done in Bengaluru. He promised to tackle all grievances and petitions at the mass contact programme in accordance with the law.

Shivakumar said a total of 116,200 houses have benefited under Gruhajyothi guarantee and 3,200 houses have some technical problems, which will be addressed soon. There are some problems in the transfer of money under Gruhalakshmi, which are being sorted out.

He asked the people not to sell their lands to anybody as they are likely to get good value and not to yield to any temptations. He also asked the people to directly approach him if they face any problems.