Siddaramaiah loyalist, leading MLAs foreign tour, backs out amid junket row
India Today
Siddaramaiah loyalist backs out of MLA's foreign tour amid junket row
Karnataka Animal Husbandry Minister K Venkatesh, considered a close aide of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has withdrawn from a proposed foreign tour involving a group of MLAs amid a major controversy over the funding and necessity of the trip.
Karnataka politics recently witnessed a flare-up after around 25 MLAs loyal to Siddaramaiah sought approval for a “study tour” to Australia and New Zealand, claiming the visit was intended to learn best practices in animal husbandry. The Opposition slammed the move, calling it a junket funded by taxpayers’ money. However, the Congress party and the state government have maintained that the MLAs are bearing the expenses themselves.
The tour gained added political significance as it came against the backdrop of a power tussle between the Chief Minister and his deputy, DK Shivakumar.
It is important to note that the Animal Husbandry Department was to organise the tour, with Minister Venkatesh initially slated to lead the delegation.
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