Karnataka’s Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) minister Krishna Byre Gowda has accused the Election Commission of not allowing him to discharge his duty even as the state is reeling under drought and faces drinking water problem.
“Several taluks are reeling under severe drought. The EC, though, will not allow me to discharge my duty as the RDPR minister and conduct meetings with the Zilla Parishad CEOs to review critical drinking water and employment programmes. Why?” Gowda asked in a tweet.
Karnataka went to polls on April 18 and April 23 in two phases of the Lok Sabha election. “Elections are over in Karnataka. Aren’t laws and rules meant to aid better governance and not stymie legitimate efforts to safeguard citizens?” Gowda added.
Consecutive drought years and rapid depletion of groundwater levels have resulted in a severe shortage of drinking water in many parts of the state. Data shows that a total of 1,112 villages are being supplied tanker water as nearby water sources have dried up.
The Election Commission relaxed the model code of conduct for Karnataka to the extent of allowing the government to inviting, finalizing tender and issue work orders for infrastructure, development works, procurement of goods and services after April 23, the last day of Lok Sabha polls in the state, instead of May 23, the day election results will be out.
The BJP has objected to relaxation of the code of conduct in Karnataka. “Even if it is assumed that elections in Karnataka are over, the decisions of the state government on various projects will have their ramifications in other states where elections are under progress,” BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa wrote in his letter to the Election Commission.
Agencies
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