Bengaluru, Mar 10 (PTI) Opposition BJP leaders took a dig at Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, questioning his absence during the pre-budget meetings and his silence over the state budget presented by CM Siddaramaiah last week.
Leader of Opposition R Ashoka and senior BJP MLA Sunil Kumar’s remarks on Shivakumar’s alleged silence over the budget seemed aimed at mocking the power tussle between him and Siddaramaiah over the CM issue, amid speculation about a leadership change after the ongoing budget session.
It all began when Ashoka attacked Siddaramaiah’s budget presentation, calling it an “empty trunk” or “Khaali Chambu” (empty vessel), and asked Shivakumar why he suddenly went to New Delhi on Sunday.
The Deputy CM retorted by questioning, “Should we call the budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman an empty drum then?” Pointing at the BJP’s protest by holding a ‘Khaali Chambu’ on Budget day, Shivakumar further said, “Even before the budget was presented, you (BJP) had kept the Chambus ready. If you had got it after the budget presentation it was fine, but you had planned it earlier. It shows your thinking.” Kumar said, “You (Shivakumar) did not attend the pre-budget meetings with the chief minister. I went through newspaper coverage on the next day of the budget. There is not even a single comment of yours. I did not understand what was happening. You did not attend pre budget meetings of both your departments (water resources and Bengaluru Development). There is no comment of yours in papers saying whether the budget is good or bad.” Reacting, Shivakumar said, “I have said whatever I have to.” To this Ashoka retorted, “He (Shivakumar) had said whatever he had to (to the Congress high command) when he went to Delhi.” Shivakumar’s visit to New Delhi on Sunday had once again triggered speculation, linking it to a possible leadership change in the state, after the Budget Session of the Legislature. PTI KSU KH
Category: Breaking News
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