DK Shivakumar Announces Rs 2,238 Cr Projects for Chitradurga; R Ashoka Slams Move as Election Gimmick

By Political Bureau

Bengaluru Mail

BENGALURU — Setting the stage for an intense political showdown ahead of the Hiriyur Assembly by-election, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced a massive development package worth Rs 2,238 crore for the Hiriyur taluk in the Chitradurga district.  

Addressing a large public gathering at Dharmapura after performing the bhoomi puja (groundbreaking ceremony) for various infrastructure works, Shivakumar stated that his visit carried a deep sense of administrative responsibility. He noted that the initiative aims to fulfill and expand upon the vision laid down by the late minister D. Sudhakar, whose passing necessitated the upcoming by-poll.

“I have not come empty-handed. I have brought the Goddess of Development with me, carrying sanction orders for projects worth over Rs 2,500 crore,” Shivakumar told the cheering crowd.

BJP Fires Back: “An Eyewash for Votes”

The high-value announcements immediately invited sharp backlash from the opposition. Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, R. Ashoka, launched a fierce counter-attack, dismissing the infrastructure push as a desperate election gimmick.  

Ashoka cast doubt on the credibility of the ruling administration’s promises, launching a direct verbal jibe against the Chief Minister:

“Nobody believes D.K. Shivakumar. He is a leader famous for destroying anyone… Nobody in his own party even believes him,” Ashoka remarked.

Senior leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) further alleged that the state government is practicing double standards. They pointed out that while the administration previously cited severe financial crunches when handling regular welfare disbursements—such as delays or friction surrounding the Gruha Lakshmi scheme—it has suddenly managed to unearth thousands of crores of rupees specifically targeted at winning a localized by-election.  

Political Stakes in Chitradurga

The Hiriyur by-election has transformed into a high-prestige battleground for both the ruling Congress and the opposition camp. While Congress leadership maintains that the multi-crore investments are part of a continuous structural commitment to uplift rural infrastructure and honor past leaders, the BJP intends to turn the narrative toward fiscal discipline and poll-driven opportunism.

As campaigns heat up across Chitradurga, voters are left weighing long-term civic promises against fierce partisan sparring.