Karnataka Congress MLA's poll guarantee suggestion leaves party embarrassed

NEW DELHI: A Karnataka Congress MLA's suggestion to chief minister about poll guarantees has left the party embarrassed. HR Gaviyappa, Congress MLA from Vijayanagar, proposed cancelling certain election guarantees due to financial constraints.

He said that the electoral commitments were hindering housing provision for underprivileged residents. The Congress MLA said that the CM had secured Rs 40,000 crore this year for developmental purposes.

"Because of guarantee schemes, there is difficulty in providing houses to the poor. We are also asking the chief minister to drop two or three schemes, which are not needed. Let's see what the chief minister says," said Gaviyappa during a public gathering in Vijayanagara.

Meanwhile, Gaviyappa's remarks triggered a stern reaction from deputy CM DK Shivakumar who announced disciplinary action against him.

"This is Congress party. I am going to issue him a showcause notice. He can't do that. No question of closing any guarantee. We have committed to the people of Karnataka. No one can raise their voice (against the guarantees)," DK Shivakumar said while addressing the media in Bengaluru.

He added that Congress MLAs are not permitted to speak against the guarantees. Shivakumar clarified that ineligible individuals would not receive benefits, referencing the same approach used in the recent BPL card revision.

Following Central government guidelines, the Karnataka government has resolved to exclude government employees and income taxpayers from the BPL card holders' list.

Earlier, Gaviyappa had raised concerns about funding discrimination against his constituency, indicating possible internal discord within the state Congress. District Congress chief Siraj Sheikh had refuted these allegations, describing Mr Gaviyappa as uninvolved and suggesting that his associates were RSS members.