Mr Reddy made the remark at the inauguration of a school building
- Siddaramaiah's adviser Basavaraj Raya Reddy has brought to the fore the fund crunch issue again
- We must manage with the funds available, he said while asking people to choose between food and roads
- His remark risks a fresh flashpoint that threatens Siddaramaiah's position amid a power struggle
Choose either election guarantees or development - a close aide of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told a public rally yesterday, risking a fresh political flashpoint amid an apparent power struggle in the southern state's ruling dispensation.
Basavaraj Raya Reddy, an MLA and economic adviser to Siddaramaiah, hinted at a fund crunch while addressing a gathering during the inauguration of a school building in his Yelburga constituency.
"Say I don't want rice or anything, if you say, "only build village roads", we will do that too. I will suggest Siddaramaiah stop it as people are asking us to, should I tell him?" he was heard saying in Kannada.
"If you want an asphalt road or a school, understand that everything can't be done at once. You need to make it clear, say you don't want these other benefits, stop all that. If you ask us to build roads, we will build roads. If you say, "build temples", we'll build only temples. It is because we must manage everything with the funds available," he added.
The timing of his remark assumes political significance as Siddaramaiah faces a litmus test with his own MLAs raising corruption and administrative concerns.
The statement also refilled the opposition arsenal after their demands for Siddaramaiah to resign in the aftermath of the Bengaluru stampede fell on deaf ears.
Basangouda Patil Yatnal, a rebel MLA recently expelled from BJP, said that Mr Reddy's "reckless" remarks reflected the Congress priorities and that the state government is taking the people of Karnataka on a ride.
"Freebie politics will not only deprive people of basic infrastructure but also increase the prices of essential services. The electorate must reject freebie politics and vote for development, education, jobs, law and order, and the welfare of the people," he said.
