'Choose Between Roads Or Rice': Siddaramaiah Aide Sparks Political Row In Karnataka

Last Updated:July 06, 2025, 19:49 IST

During an event at a village, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah's economic adviser Basavaraj Rayareddi suggested people should choose between guarantees or developmental work

The remark at a public event by Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah's economic adviser has drawn sharp criticism from the BJP. (Image: PTI/File)

The Congress-led Karnataka government has landed in another controversy after MLA and close aide osf Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asked residents of a village to choose between roads and rice under the ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme.

The remark at a public event by Siddaramaiah’s economic adviser Basavaraj Rayareddi has drawn sharp criticism from the BJP, which accused the state government of being “bankrupt".

At an inauguration event in Yelburga on Saturday (July 5), Rayareddi hinted at financial constraints and suggested that people should choose between guarantees or developmental work.

“Tell you don’t want rice, we’ll get the village roads done. I will advise the chief minister that our people have said they don’t need all this. Should I advise? They’ll put your name there. We get the village roads done, there are three more years. Now we have to lay asphalt, it’s a little difficult since the village road network is extensive," he said in Kannada at the event.

Rayareddi’s comments come at a time when Siddaramaiah is facing a litmus test with his own MLAs raising corruption and administrative concerns.

The MLA, however, denied making any statement about guarantee schemes. He said the state’s economy is strong and the government is directly transferring more than Rs 1 lakh crore to beneficiaries of different guarantee schemes, including ‘Anna Bhagya’, as well as programmes offering free electricity to farmers and students.

“I have not made any adverse statements regarding the guarantee schemes," he said. “When I said that regarding roads, I meant it would take time. I advocate for an increase in guarantee schemes. The state’s economy is strong."

WHAT IS THE BJP SAYING?

The opposition BJP soon seized on Rayareddi’s comments and slammed the Congress government for not fulfilling people’s needs. On X, the state unit slammed the MLA’s comments and accused the Congress government of misleading the public.

“The @INCKarnataka government, which was boasting that guarantees have not hindered development, what does it have to say about Rayareddy’s statement? By saying, “Do you want roads for villages? If so, give it in writing that you don’t want guarantees," CM’s economic advisor and senior Congress MLA Basavaraj Rayareddy has directly admitted that the guarantee scheme is stunting development. Those who were shouting that it’s free for Mahadevappa and free for Kaka Patil are now part of the bill. No guarantee has been properly implemented in the state, and development has become a pipe dream for the people of the state. Even the ruling party’s own MLAs have given a thumbs-down to the Congress party’s governance approach," it said.

Responding to the comment, Union minister Pralhad Joshi said: “The state government is bankrupt. They are not giving any guarantees properly. No roads are being constructed or developmental work is happening, only corruption…"

Basangouda Patil Yatnal, a recently expelled BJP MLA, called the statement “reckless" and accused the Congress government of misleading the public. “Freebie politics will not only deprive people of basic infrastructure but also increase the prices of essential services. The electorate must reject freebie politics and vote for development, education, jobs, law and order, and the welfare of the people," he said.

News politics 'Choose Between Roads Or Rice': Siddaramaiah Aide Sparks Political Row In Karnataka