Bangalore: Ahead of All India Congress Committee (AICC) president, Sonia Gandhi's visit to Gulbarga, disgruntled senior leaders of the party led by six-time legislator from Afzalpur Malikayya Guttedar and K.B. Koliwad reportedly kicked off a signature campaign to seek 'proper representation' for senior leaders in the state cabinet.
These leaders have sought an appointment with Gandhi during her visit to Gulbarga. They want to meet her and hand over a memorandum seeking a better deal from the party leadership.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader said, "these leaders have prepared a detailed memorandum seeking Gandhi's intervention to exert pressure on Chief Minster, Siddaramaiah to expand his cabinet and fill the remaining three cabinet berths."
According to the source, though their demand appears to be 'genuine' on a first glance, these leaders have reportedly succeeded in getting the signatures of only a handful of legislators in the memorandum. "Six to eight legislators might have signed the memorandum as of now," the source explained.
During the recent cabient expansion undertaken by Siddaramiah, only two Congress heavyweights from Bangalore —D.K. Shivakumar and Roshan Baig— were inducted into the cabinet.
No more land for pvt trusts, Cabinet approves model roads
In a significant decision, the state cabinet on Tuesday decided not to give land to trusts or organisations until a policy was formulated.
Sources said that the government received many complaints vis-a-vise land alloted to private trusts and societies. Keeping this in mind, the cabinet decided to formulate a policy on allotment of government land to private trusts, societies. This will check misuse of the land, sources said.
The cabinet also cleared proposals for creating five model roads in the city on the lines of Vittal Mallya Road. The five roads are Siddaiah Puranik Road, Modi Road, Nrupatunga Road, K.G. Road and a strech between Jayanagar Cool Point junction and JP Nagar 15th cross. In all, Rs 62 crore will be spent on these five projects.
It also approved the proposal to convert the 4 km stretch on Dr Rajkumar Road and a 10-km stretch on Old Airport Road into signal free corridors. Rs 139 crores will be spent on this project.
The cabinet decided to constitute a new water board on the lines of BWSSB for rural areas. The third phase of IT education will be implemented in all schools in the next five years.
