From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Feb 5: Chief minister B S Yediyurappa taunted Opposition Congress leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah for making repeated false claims on his replacement and asserted that he thrives on challenges, which make him stronger.
During the course of his reply to the debate in the State Legislative Assembly on the motion of thanks to Governor Vajubhai Vala for his address to the joint session of the legislature, Yediyurappa said: "I thrive on facing challenges. During the last five decades of my political career, I have successfully confronted several challenges and come out stronger. I have occupied the chief ministership for the fourth time undaunted.’’
The chief minister asked Siddaramaiah to desist from making claims that he will be replaced soon. "You have been saying this for the past six months. I will continue in office as long as I have the blessings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah as also the support of the people.’’
The Congress leader, however, remained firm in his statement that Yediyurappa’s tenure will not last long. "I have been repeating what I have been hearing from your own party. You were not allowed to expand your cabinet and forced to repeatedly change portfolios. You are unable to make decisions on your own. Is this the sign of a strong chief minister,’’ he asked.
Yediyurappa remained unfazed and recounted the series of challenges faced by him in his political career. "I have boldly faced all challenges with courage, self-control and determination to serve the people. Being in power is an opportunity to do good and serve the people forgetting vendetta politics. Then God will bless and give strength,’’ he said.
He proudly mentioned that the ruling BJP has emerged victorious in all the elections under his leadership. While the victory in the Sira assembly by-election was historic, Yediyurappa claimed that BJP will win the ensuing by-polls in three assembly constituencies and the Belagavi Lok Sabha seat.
The CM got irritated when his party colleague Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who has been a vocal critic of Yediyurappa, sought to know the government’s stand on the ongoing agitation by the Panchamasali Lingayats demanding inclusion under the 2A Category of OBC list and said he cannot take decisions on such matters unilaterally. "I have to consult the party’s central leaders first,’’ he said.
Fortunately for the chief minister, the State Assembly Speaker Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri said the subject cannot be discussed in the House.
In his reply, the chief minister recounted the situation in the state when as many as 126 taluks were hit by severe drought and the reservoirs were dried up when he took over the reins on July 26, 2019. The situation changed and the state received bountiful rains and all the dams were filled up. The state even faced unprecedented floods and deluge and the entire northern Karnataka region and coastal districts were flooded resulting in huge losses.
The chief minister listed out the decisions taken by his government and the successful handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent economic downturn that resulted in affecting lives and livelihoods besides hitting the state’s resource mobilisation.