Bagalkote, 14 Mar 

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday asserted that the Congress is ready for the upcoming by-election to the Bagalkote and Davangere South Assembly constituencies.

Bypolls for the Bagalkote and Davanagere South assembly constituencies are necessitated following the deaths of sitting Congress MLAs HY Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa, respectively.

"The preparations for the bypolls are completed. We are ready for the byelection," Siddaramaiah said in response to a question about the bypolls.

Stating that the Congress high command will decide the candidates for the bypolls, the CM said, "In Bagalkote, late HY Meti's family members are also strong aspirants. It is not wrong to have aspirations; we (State leaders) will consider all aspects and recommend a candidate. The high command will make the final decision."

The bypoll date may be announced within a week, he added.

The State Congress had recently constituted steering committees for both segments to select candidates and formulate necessary electoral strategies for the victory of party candidates.

In Bagalkote, Congress's Meti defeated BJP's Veeranna Charantimath by a margin of 5,878 votes in the 2023 Assembly polls. In Davangere South, Congress's Shivashankarappa defeated BJP's BG Ajay Kumar by a margin of 27,888 votes.

On the LPG supply constraints, especially commercial cylinders, caused by the West Asia conflict, the chief minister said it is the central government's responsibility to ensure supplies.

"Who should supply gas cylinders? It is the central government. If they supply, the state will ensure distribution. Our Food and Civil Supplies Minister (KH Muniyapopa) has held two meetings (with oil companies). I wrote a letter to the concerned central minister to ensure there is no shortage. It is the responsibility of the Government of India," he added.

To a question regarding the implementation of internal reservation in recruitment to government jobs, Siddaramaiah said he has called a special cabinet meeting to discuss it on 27 March, and a final decision will be made there.

There are reports about alleged rifts between SC (Right) and SC (Left) factions within the ruling Congress regarding internal reservations during the recruitment announced for 56,432 vacant jobs.

The State government had recently decided to conduct recruitment based on the reservation order in force before 28 December 2022 (15 per cent for SCs and 3 per cent for STs), due to the stay on the enhanced quota and internal reservation, while continuing to pursue its case in court.