MLA B.R. Patil resigns as Political Advisor over grant issues

Kalaburgi

B.R. Patil, the Congress MLA from Aland, Karnataka, resigned as the political advisor to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday, citing issues with the allocation of grants under the pre-poll guarantee schemes. Patil, who held the position since December 2023, submitted his resignation to the Chief Minister’s office in Bengaluru.

Patil explained that the Congress government’s budget of Rs 52,000 crore for the 2024-25 fiscal year, allocated to fund five guarantees, had been exhausted much earlier than expected. This led to challenges in securing grants for various constituencies, including his own. He stated that he had written twice to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah about the issue but understood the pressures the CM was facing due to ongoing investigations and the preparation for the state budget.

Patil clarified that while grants were a key issue, other concerns also contributed to his resignation. He mentioned that his role as a political advisor felt ineffective, as he was unable to address key issues in his constituency. He stressed that his decision was not influenced by personal ambitions, dismissing speculation about him seeking a larger political role.

Patil, who has served as an MLA four times and MLC twice, also mentioned that his resignation was tied to the ongoing office of profit issue. He made it clear that he would not contest future elections, expressing his gratitude for the opportunities he had received throughout his political career.