Karnataka : In a statement that has reignited political debate in Karnataka, Basavaraj Raya Reddy, economic adviser to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and an MLA, urged citizens to choose between government welfare guarantees and infrastructural development. Speaking at a school building inauguration in his Yelburga constituency, Reddy highlighted the financial strain facing the state.
“If you tell us you don’t want free rice or other benefits and only need roads, we’ll build them. Should I tell the Chief Minister that people want roads over schemes?” Reddy said during his address, speaking in Kannada.
He emphasized that state funds are limited and must be prioritized carefully: “Whether it’s roads, schools, or temples—only so much can be done at once. The public must decide what they value most.”
The timing of his statement is politically charged, especially as Siddaramaiah faces mounting pressure from within his own party over alleged corruption and administrative inefficiencies. It also hands ammunition to the opposition, which had recently demanded the Chief Minister’s resignation after the tragic Bengaluru stampede.
Former BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal condemned the statement, accusing the Congress government of misleading the public. “Freebie politics is damaging Karnataka’s growth prospects. It’s time voters chose real development over short-term handouts,” he said.
Reddy’s comments have exposed a growing dilemma within the ruling Congress — balancing ambitious welfare guarantees with infrastructure needs under limited fiscal resources.
