Siddaramaiah happy with his year-long rule

Karnataka government turns one today; celebrations muted

Expressing happiness over the year-long administration of his government, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today also claimed that the financial position of the state had improved.

Speaking to reporters at the Government House in Mysore where he held a ‘Janatha Darshana’ and received petitions from the public, Siddaramaiah said, he was happy with his performance during the last one year of his government.

Siddaramaiah (65) is completing one year in office tomorrow as the 22nd chief minister of Karnataka. The Congress government led by him assumed office on May 13 last year. However, no celebrations have been planned for tomorrow as generally done by all chief ministers to highlight achievements of the people in view of the prevailing code of conduct of the Election Commission which is in operation till the completion of counting of votes to the Lok Sabha on May 16, and also due to the drought conditions in some parts of the state.

Speaking after receiving petitions from the public, he said: “I am happy with my achievements. People have appreciated the achievements of my government. However, there is a need to achieve more.”

He said, the financial condition of the state had improved during his regime. He would place his achievements at the state level and the district in-charge ministers at the district levels on May 19.

“The new programmes of the government, like ‘Anna Bhagya’ and ‘Ksheera Bhagya’, have reached the people. People will assess the performance of my govern- ment,” the chief minister said.

Reacting to Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (KERC) decision to increase the power tariff in the state by 32 paise a unit from this month alone, Siddaramaiah said it was the KERC which had taken the decision in which the government had no role.

About the issue relating to fishing in Kabini in H D Kote, he promised that it would be resolved after convening a meeting to sort out the issue.

In their representations, petitioners made appeals like transfers, employment, admission to schools among others over which the CM directed the officials to take appropriate action.