Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday set a target of winning at least 20 Lok Sabha seats in the state in next year's Parliamentary elections. Karnataka has a total of 28 Lok Sabha seats.
The Chief Minister convened a meeting of his cabinet and reviewed preparation of 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The meeting was attended by 19 ministers, the CM and his deputy DK Shivakumar. They also discussed the severe drought situation in the state and no aid coming from the Centre, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said.
"Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar had convened a meeting where 19 ministers were present. The objective was to discuss the parliamentary elections next year. All the discussions have taken place. Our target is winning 20 seats," he said.
"There is no confusion about the CM and the Deputy CM. The high command has said that barring development work nothing should be talked," Ramalinga Reddy said while responding to a question on the confusion created due to ministers discussing in public forum the possible change of guard in the state.
"Since AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala directed us a few days back not to speak about it, there is no question of giving public statements. So, you (media) too should not ask such questions. You have to ask me only about development," he added.
Ramalinga Reddy on drought-like situation in Karnataka
Drought situation in the state also came up in the meeting, Reddy said adding that the ministers were told to work to face it. In this context, he accused the Centre of doing nothing.
“Despite drought the Centre is not paying heed. It did not release even a paisa. During (assembly) election they (central ministers) were coming in hordes to seek votes, but now no one is coming though we are in severe crisis,” he added.
With inputs from PTI
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