Bengaluru’s political landscape heated up as Leader of Opposition R Ashok issued a strong call to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ahead of the upcoming state budget. In a pointed statement released on Saturday, Ashok demanded a dedicated allocation of at least ₹15,000 crore to address long-standing regional imbalances plaguing Karnataka.
Drawing from the recommendations of the Prof. Govinda Rao Committee, Ashok argued that this substantial funding is essential to rectify disparities that have worsened under successive governments, particularly during Congress’s extended tenures. ‘The Congress has ruled Karnataka the longest and Siddaramaiah has presented the most budgets. They bear direct responsibility for these imbalances,’ he asserted, urging a separate budgetary provision to correct this ‘negligence.’
Ashok was unequivocal in warning against any sleight of hand. He cautioned the government against repackaging routine allocations to departments or boards like the Kalyana Karnataka Regional Development Board as funds for regional redressal. ‘This requires a distinct and special allocation,’ he emphasized, highlighting the need for transparency.
The critique extended to stark data: backward taluks identified by the Prof. D.M. Nanjundappa Committee have ballooned from 65% to 72.8% over two decades, a trend Ashok called alarming. He accused Congress leaders of shedding ‘crocodile tears’ over backward areas and challenged them to set a precedent with record funding now that they hold power.
Despite Karnataka’s boastful second-place ranking in Net State Domestic Product among large states, Ashok stressed that true progress demands tackling root causes of disparity. He proposed establishing a ‘Regional Disparity Redressal Monitoring Unit’ to oversee the implementation of the committee’s 11 key recommendations, ensuring timely fund allocation, utilization, and project execution with strict deadlines.
Further safeguards include provisions for strict action against misuse of special funds or guideline violations. Ashok also pointed to growing public demand for reforms in the Kalyana Karnataka board, advocating projects based on expert advice and genuine needs rather than elected representatives’ whims. ‘Beyond regular budgets, special funds must be disbursed strictly based on backwardness metrics,’ he concluded, pushing for accountability-driven development.