Karnataka Congress MLA says one or two guarantee schemes should be scrapped, backtracks later

However, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress president, said none of the five guarantee schemes would be discontinued. He also said that a showcause notice would be issued to the Vijayanagara MLA seeking his explanation.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said, “We have given a word to the people of the state on the guarantees and we will stand by it at any cost. No MLA of the Congress party should question the guarantee schemes,” he said, adding that the party would take action if anyone did so.

In a clarification later, Gaviyappa said, “I did not ask for the schemes to be scrapped. I said the schemes can be reviewed.” He recently told a news channel that funds allocated to MLAs had decreased because of the guarantee schemes.

Other Congress leaders including PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi have called for a review of the guarantee schemes to prevent the rich from benefiting from them.

Independent MLA Darshan Puttannaiah, who supports the Congress in the Assembly, has also raised concerns of lack of funds for development activity as the guarantee schemes corner a lion’s share of funds.