BENGALURU: Ahead of July 26 — when he completes two years in office — chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Saturday virtually inaugurated a slew of development projects worth Rs 1,800 crore to be taken up in his home district, Shivamogga.
Their inauguration at one go assumes significance in the wake of reports about leadership change in the state. The CM recently said he is expecting a call from the party brass about his future on Sunday and will abide by their decision.
While most of the works are related to irrigation, some healthcare and construction-related projects were also launched.
While some projects inaugurated were announced in the budget speech for the financial year, opposition JD(S) questioned Yediyurappa’s urgency to approve them. Former CM HD Kumaraswamy alleged the government approved Rs 12,000 crore works in a hurried manner over the past few days amid talks of leadership change.
Some ruling party members, including senior MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, had also questioned Yediyurappa’s bonanza for his home district and accused him of neglecting other backward districts of North Karnataka.
In March, the CM launched the Rs 105-crore Muguru lift irrigation project. He recently released funds to take up some politically significant projects, including Anubhava Mantapa linked to 12th century social reformer Basavanna, in Basavakalyana, Bidar district.
On July 24, the CM unveiled a bust of Basavanna outside Gandhi Park in Shivamogga, which had been donated by Lambeth Basaveshwara Foundation, a UK-based non-profit organisation.
Yediyurappa got voted to the assembly from Shikaripur, Shivamogga, nearly nine times since 1983, and his son BY Raghavendra is an MP from the region. “The development projects may be a thanksgiving gift for people of his district,” said some party MLAs.
But deputy chief minister Govind Karjol denied reports that Yediyurappa was on his way out.
