BJP MLA stages lone protest against ‘neglect’ of Mudigere constituency

This is yet another sign of simmering discontent among some quarters after Cabinet expansion

M.P. Kumaraswamy, three-time MLA of the ruling BJP from Mudigere constituency in Chikkamagaluru, on Thursday staged a protest in Bengaluru accusing his party’s government of “discrimination” in releasing funds to his constituency that has been devastated by torrential rain, floods, and landslips for the last two years. Speaking to The Hindu, the MLA, who was denied Cabinet berths in the BJP governments headed by B.S. Yediyurappa earlier and now by Basavaraj Bommai, said the State government had not released funds to his constituency under the National Disaster Response Fund and State Disaster Response Fund . The government released ₹20 crore in 2019 when the JD(S)-Congress coalition government was ruling the State and after that his constituency had received funds in 2020 and 2021. Roads, bridges and other public infrastructure in the constituency was totally damaged by heavy rain, he said, and accused the government of neglecting the constituency which falls in the Malnad region.