Bengaluru: If Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge is planning a return to state politics and eyeing the CM gaddi, he better be prepared to sweat it out. Maybe aware of Mr Kharge’s intentions, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asserted on Friday that he will complete his five-year term and will lead the party in the 2018 Assembly elections.
It was Mr Kharge whom Siddaramaiah defeated in the battle for the CM’s post after the spectacular victory of the Congress party in the 2013 polls.
Speaking in the Legislative Council while seeking approval for the supplementary budget, Mr Siddaramaiah said, “I will be the Chief Minister for the rest of my term, there is no dissident activity in the party nor is there any threat to my post.”
“Our party is united, we are united like a hard rock and we believe in internal democracy. Legislators are free to express their views but the BJP anticipates a big explosion in our party. They are dreaming,” the CM said, adding, “It was BJP which said they will rule the state for 20 years. Why did you (BJP) appoint three Chief Ministers in five years?”
Mr Siddaramaiah claimed that he and KPCC president Dr G. Parameshwar who was in the race for the CM post, are on good terms. “I and Dr Parameshwar are very good friends, we have a good working relationship, much better than what other CMs and KPCC presidents had before. But the BJP is trying hard to spoil our relationship,” the CM said. When he made this remark, Dr Parameshwar was not present in the House.
Bill to make TDR more attractive
The Legislative Assembly passed the Karnataka Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill, 2015 on Friday making Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) more attractive for land-losers.
While piloting the bill, Urban development minister, Vinaykumar Sorake said the Karnataka Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill, 2015, has enhanced the TDR from the present 1.5 times of the cost of land lost to two times of the cost of the land.
Mr Sorake added that TDR should be calculated based on the land area or the building area surrendered by the owner of any public authority free from all encumbrances and without claiming any compensation.
The bill is aimed at regulating development of land in a planned and organised manner, and to define the boundary within which different land use zones for development are proposed in the master plan period.
