BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai has said that the people of the State are repenting their decision to elect the Congress to power while cursing the State government as both the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister are engrossed in a tussle for the chair forgetting welfare work.

Speaking to presspersons in Hubballi on Tuesday, Mr. Bommai termed the non-payment of pending bills to the tune of ₹250 crore to truckers supplying foodgrains under the public distribution system as an “unpardonable crime”. The State government has utterly failed in fiscal management, he said.

Mr. Bommai said that during the BJP rule when he was Chief Minister, it allocated sufficient funds for various schemes but now the Congress is just spreading canards.

When in power, the BJP cleared pending bills pertaining to Siddaramaiah’s previous term as Chief Minister. Despite the troubles it faced during the COVID-19 pandemic under the leadership of then Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, the government managed finances very well. However, the Congress government has betrayed the people with financial mismanagement, he said.

Leave alone giving 15 kg rice, the government is not even providing 10 kg of grain and its promise of providing rice instead of cash has also remained on paper, he said.

“People are not getting foodgrains. The healthcare system is in disarray. Poor SSLC exam results show the plight of education. No funds are being released for basic infrastructure projects like roads and drinking water,” he said.

Mr. Bommai said that the government is not paying salaries to municipal employees because of which they are up in arms. The order passed last year directing municipal bodies to mobilise funds for paying salaries is an indication of the sorry state of finances, he said and urged the Chief Minister to admit his mistakes and immediately release funds required for various schemes and projects.

Mr. Bommai said that the poor and the farmers are facing hardships as they are hit by heavy rain and floods and the authorities are apathetic towards their problems. Engrossed in the fight for power and position, the Congress leaders have completely forgotten the people, he added.