Chitradurga: Chief minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said the state govt has approved development works worth over Rs 2,200 crore for the comprehensive development of Hiriyur Assembly constituency and is prepared to allocate more funds if required.Speaking after laying the foundation stone for a KSRTC bus stand and other development projects at Dharmapura village in Hiriyur taluk, Shivakumar said the constituency was a priority for the govt.“Hiriyur is as important to me as Kanakapura. If necessary, we are ready to spend another Rs 500 crore. There is no shortage of funds with our govt. We are not leaders who visit constituencies only during elections,” he said.Responding to demands from sections of the crowd to announce Suhas as the Congress candidate, Shivakumar said the party had conducted four surveys and would field a suitable candidate at the appropriate time.Targeting the BJP and JD(S), he challenged their leaders to explain their contribution to the constituency when they were in power. He alleged that though the Centre had announced Rs 5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra project, the funds were yet to be released.He urged people to question former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy and BJP leaders about the pending assistance. Referring to the BJP-JD(S) alliance, he said the two parties could field a joint candidate, but he would remain focused on development and public welfare.Defending the Congress govt’s welfare agenda, Shivakumar said all five guarantee schemes had been implemented despite criticism from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He added that the proposed Bhoomi Guarantee scheme would become the sixth guarantee.Recalling his long association with late former minister D Sudhakar, Shivakumar said he attended the programme with a heavy heart. He described Sudhakar as a leader who served people without discrimination and had strongly wished to see him become chief minister.He said the govt had prioritised irrigation works and initiated measures to fill lakes in Dharmapura hobli. The new KSRTC bus stand will be built at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore.District minister T Raghumurthy highlighted the govt’s welfare initiatives in education, agriculture and public services.
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