In the last 100 days, the party set-up the Cabinet, implemented 3 of 5 poll guarantees, and presented the biggest budget in Karnataka history.
The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government completed 100 days at the helm in Karnataka. (X)
Amidst allegations of corruption, commissions, and irregularities in transfers, the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government has completed 100 days at the helm in Karnataka.
After a stellar victory in the 10 May Assembly Polls, the Congress came to power on 20 May with Siddaramaiah taking oath as the chief minister and eight other MLAs, including Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President DK Shivakumar, being sworn in as Cabinet ministers.
In the last 100 days, amidst dissent within the Congress, the Siddaramaiah-led government has set-up a full fledged Cabinet, implemented three of its five poll guarantees, and presented the biggest budget in the history of Karnataka.
Siddaramaiah also presented the first revenue deficit budget in his political career. He also set a record by becoming the only person to present 14 budgets in the state.
In a major decision, the Karnataka government also announced that it will completely cancel the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 from the next academic year.
It may be noted that Karnataka was the first state to implement the Union government’s NEP during the BJP government’s regime.
Though there is no Leader of Opposition in both the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Council, the BJP and JD(S) have attacked the state government over allegations of corruption, commissions, and irregularities in transfers and postings.
On completing 100 days at the helm, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asserted that his government is progressing on the path of equality and working towards fulfilling the people’s expectations.
In a series of posts on X, Siddaramaiah said, “Our government has come to power and ‘100 days’ have been completed. In the past Legislative Assembly elections, the voters of the state have shown trust and confidence in us by electing our candidates in 135 constituencies, giving us the opportunity to form a stable government.”
ನಮ್ಮ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಅಧಿಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದು ಇಂದಿಗೆ ” 100 ದಿನಗಳು” ಪೂರೈಸಿದೆ. ಕಳೆದ ವಿಧಾನಸಭಾ ಚುನಾವಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಾಡಿನ ಮತದಾರರು ನಮ್ಮ ಮೇಲೆ ನಂಬಿಕೆ ಮತ್ತು ಭರವಸೆಯನ್ನಿಟ್ಟು 135 ಸ್ಥಾನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಅಭ್ಯರ್ಥಿಗಳನ್ನು ಗೆಲ್ಲಿಸಿ ಪೂರ್ಣ ಬಹುಮತದ ಸುಭದ್ರ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ರಚನೆಗೆ ಅವಕಾಶ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಜನರು ನೀಡಿರುವ ಈ ಅವಕಾಶವನ್ನು ಸದುಪಯೋಗ… pic.twitter.com/6V6SULrXFI
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) August 27, 2023
“We are making sincere efforts to utilise this opportunity that people have given us and fulfil their expectations,” added the chief minister.
He further said, “Alongside the implementation of guarantees, welfare schemes, and development schemes, we are progressing on the path of equality shown by philosophers like Buddha, Basava, Ambedkar, Kuvempu, Kanaka Dasa, and others.”
“Taking inspiration from these great minds, we are moving forward to uplift the state, fostering social integration, and reaching the last person in society through our government programmes,” added Siddaramaiah.
“On this special occasion, with our joint efforts and unwavering support, we are celebrating 100 days of progress. We extend our gratitude to every individual who stands by us during this journey. May your collective cooperation remain constant,” the chief minister said.
Although the Congress had promised to implement its five poll guarantees on the very first day of assuming power, the Siddaramaiah-led government has managed to implement only three guarantees in the last 100 days.
In the run-up to the Assembly elections, the grand-old-party had announced five poll guarantees: Gruha Jyothi (200 units of free electricity to every house), Gruha Lakshmi (₹2,000 financial assistance to the woman head of the family), Anna Bhagya (10 kg of free rice to Below Poverty Line, BPL, and Antyodaya Card holders), Yuva Nidhi (₹3,000 and ₹1,500 financial assistance to unemployed degree and diploma holders for a period of two years), and Shakti Scheme (free travel for women in state-operated buses).
The government launched the Shakti scheme on 11 June, Anna Bhagya on 11 July, and Gruha Jyohti on 5 August.
It may also be noted that after the Union government discontinued the supply of rice and wheat to states under the Open Market Sale Scheme, the state government is struggling to procure rice to fully implement the Anna Bhagya Yojana.
At present, the state government is providing ₹170 per beneficiary (BPL and Antyodaya Card holders) instead of five kg of rice.
Meanwhile, the state government is gearing up to launch the fourth guarantee — Gruha Lakshmi — at Mysuru on 30 August. It has also said it will launch the fifth guarantee — Yuva Nidhi — in December 2023.
Even as the Congress government completed 100 days at the helm, the BJP is yet to appoint a Leader of Opposition. However, the leaders of the saffron party took a dig at the ruling government over its governance.
Former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai told reporters, “The government that came with a complete majority has faltered in a 100 days. Under the guise of implementing guarantees, all the development works have come to a standstill.”
“The Congress government has made a commission as its business and corruption is rampant in every corner of the legislature. By keeping the contractors’ bills pending it has indulged in commission business,” alleged Bommai.
ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಬಹುಮತದೊಂದಿಗೆ ಬಂದ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ನೂರು ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಎಡವಿದ್ದೇ ಹೆಚ್ಚು. ಗ್ಯಾರೆಂಟಿ ನೆಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ವರ್ಷದ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಯ ಎಲ್ಲ ಕಾಮಗಾರಿಗಳು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ನಿಂತು ಹೋಗಿದೆ. @INCKarnataka ಸರ್ಕಾರ ವರ್ಗಾವಣೆಯನ್ನು ಒಂದು ಕಮಿಷನ್ ದಂಧೆಯಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಿ, ವಿಧಾನಸೌಧದ ಮೂಲೆ ಮೂಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಭ್ರಷ್ಟಾಚಾರ ತಾಂಡವವಾಡುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಗುತ್ತಿಗೆದಾರರ ಬಿಲ್…
— Basavaraj S Bommai (@BSBommai) August 28, 2023
He continued, “Even though farmers are suffering due to a drought, the government has not even bothered to address their concerns. Farmer suicides have begun again. All signs of agricultural production being affected are visible. The government has failed in implementing the guarantees fully.”
“On the one hand, electricity rates have been increased, burdening consumers. Adequate salaries have not been given to employees of the Transport Department. The government has failed to provide 10 kg of rice under Anna Bhagya Yojana. It is the Union government that has come to the rescue of the poor by providing 5 kg of food grains,” said Bommai.
Criticising the government for diverting SCP/TSP grants, Bommai highlighted, “In a bid to implement the five guarantees, the government is utilising ₹11,000 crore meant for the development of the SC/ST communities. The government has deceived SC/ST and OBC people.”
“The government has also failed to protect the interests of farmers and people dwelling in and around the Cauvery river basin. Giving control of our dams to Tamil Nadu and the mismanagement of Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar has had adverse effects on administration. As a result, law and order has completely deteriorated, and murders and robberies have become common. The Congress government has lost people’s trust within a hundred days. Their statements are distant from reality and they have lost faith in their legislators. Failure is evident in all fields,” the former chief minister highlighted.
BJP leader and Malleswaram MLA Dr CN Ashwath Narayan told South First, “This government is completely directionless, law and order has collapsed in the state, and it has lost the people’s confidence since it has come to power in the state.”
“They are just busy doing politics. There is a dissent within the party. It is not my statement but their own party MLAs have commented on the matter. Congress government has turned out to be an ‘ATM Sarkar’ to mobilise party funds for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections,” charged Ashwath Narayan.
He further said, “Farmers suicides are on rise and drought has hit the state, but government has not taken up any relief works till date. It has let down farmers and the people of this state.”
“They are also talking about withdrawing the National Education Policy (NEP). They have to understand that NEP has been in place since 1968. They are just doing cheap politics. This government neither understands the importance of education and policies,” the BJP legislator hit out.
Political analysts have given the Congress government a tick of approval on the welfare and development front.
Azim Premji University’s Professor and Political Analyst Narayan A told South First, “100 days is a very short period to judge the performance of any government. In its first 100 days, the government was preoccupied in implementing the five poll guarantees.”
“The first two months was all about guarantees. The government was busy in managing and launching these guarantees. It also managed adverse publicity of the opposition on these guarantees,” Narayan pointed out.
Applauding the government, he said, “Amidst all the constraints, the government has managed well on the welfare and development front. We are seeing that Minister for Large and Medium-Scale Industries MB Patil and Minister for Information Technology and Biotechnology Priyank Kharge are signing MoUs with many companies. It is a healthy development.”
“The government’s main job is to maintain and increase the growth of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). Some good activities are happening in terms of development in the state,” opined Narayan.
He further said, “Though government has done well in terms of welfare and development, it has not been decisive in quelling communal tensions and moral policing in the state. The communal tensions and moral policing are surging in the state. The government response to these crimes is not stern enough.”
“With regard to corruption, we should not be under the illusion that it has come to an end. Even against this government, some contractors have made allegations of commission collection,” opined the political analyst.
He also pointed out, “The Karnataka Legislative Assembly not having a Leader of Opposition even after 100 days will go down in history.”
May 10, 2024
May 09, 2024
May 09, 2024
May 09, 2024
May 09, 2024
May 09, 2024
