Udupi : National Vice President of Bharatiya Janata Party B S Yeddyurappa alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is conspiring to delay elections of Zilla and Taluk Panchayats due to his failure to release funds to develop rural areas.

Speaking to media persons here on Tuesday, he said the State government has failed to develop rural areas and is least concerned about releasing of funds through Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Department.

The action plans for the year 2015-16 were supposed to have been chalked out by now. But now, it seems that it has taken a backseat, he criticised.

Accusing that the State government is totally neglecting rural development, he said the government had assured the development of 1000 villages under Grama Vikas Yojane. A sum of Rs 180 crore had been released for the purpose. But the list of the villages, proposed to be developed, is not yet prepared, he claimed.

He added that the government has neglected drinking water supply to rural areas. The funds released for the year 2014-15 have lapsed as the government did not utilise the funds earmarked for the purpose. At present, it seems that the funds released for drinking water works for the year 2015-16 would also lapse. “The rural development minister himself has said that there is misuse of funds and stringent action will be taken against the officials,” he said.

Yeddyurappa stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is concerned over 136 drought-hit taluks and also about the suicide of 900 farmers in the State. He was requested to release funds immediately. The funds were released within 48 hours and Karnataka has received a huge amount of relief funds among nine states in the country which are reeling under drought,he claimed.

He claimed that there was a worst-ever drought when he was the chief minister. But his government did not expect relief funds from the Centre. The BJP government has collected funds up to Rs 3,500 crore to rehabilitate 76 villages through corporate and industrialist donors. Interestingly, the present State government is always pointing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for all its incapabilities, he criticised.

He claimed disorder in the maintenance of law and order in the State and added that crimes are increasing. The condition is horrible in the coastal belt, he said citing the double murder at Kakkunje in Belthangady taluk.

He alleged the chief minister and Legislative Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa are framing fake charges against Upalokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi to impeach him.

“It is disheartening that the Assembly Speaker is falling prey to the politics of the State government. It is an attempt to derail the system and appoint the people of their choice,” he alleged and strongly condemned Thimmappa’s recent remarks against Justice Adi.

The BJP leader said he is keen about State politics and wants to bring the party back to power in the State. Yeddyurappa said he has made his intentions clear to the Central leaders. The decision over the State BJP president would be taken after the Zilla and Taluk Panchayat polls, he added.

MP Shobha Karandlaje alleged that State government has submitted a fake utility certificate for Rs 3,600 crore released from the Union government and has deposited the money in banks without using it.