Hubli: Mining baron and Congress MLA, Santosh Lad has been hardly seen in his home constituency of Kalghatagi since he resigned as minister last year, providing fodder to Opposition parties, who claim that all development work has come to a standstill in the area as a result.
Pointing out that the former minister had visited the constituency only twice during the last nine months, they note that these visits were confined to campaigning for elections to the Lok Sabha held three months ago and for the west graduate seat in the state legislative council.
Mr Lad stepped down as minister in the Siddaramaiah cabinet in November last year following a campaign by BJP leaders and Samaj Parivarthana Samudaya founder president, S.R. Hiremath over his alleged involvement in illegal mining activity.
Upset at being forced to quit despite other tainted ministers remaining in the Cabinet, he has been keeping a low profile and is reportedly focusing on the legal battle making frequent visits to New Delhi to clear his name. But BJP leaders find his absence unacceptable.
“Kalaghatagi taluk is being neglected as local MLA Santosh Lad is not accessible to the people in the constituency. Even Dharwad district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundurao rarely visits the constituency. The funds of Rs 7 crore for development projects have been returned to the government unused, ” charged BJP leader, C M Nimbannavar who had lost to Mr Lad in the last Assembly elections in 2013.
The MLA however, asserts he is in touch with the people of Kalghatagi and will visit the constituency soon. His loyalists and personal assistants are handling the work in Kalghatagi in his absence, he claims.
