B S Yediyurappa

The Chief Minister marched through narrow lanes of slums in Ashwath Nagar and handed over milk packets to the dwellers.

Yediyurappa requested experts, doctors and owners of private hospitals to "serve the people through Government" which is serious to implement all their suggestions to contain the spread of the infections of the respiratory disease."

Presenting the budget in the assembly, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa announced tax on petrol would be increased from 32 percent to 35 percent and diesel from 21 percent to 24 percent.

The Chief Minister earmarked Rs 500 crore for the suburban railway project.

Presenting the state budget for 2020-21 in the Assembly, he said Karnataka's share in central taxes has come down by Rs 8,887 crore in 2019-20 as per the revised budget estimates of the central government.

Yediyurappa had been persistent on his demands with the central leadership, which, by agreeing to many of them, appeared to be trying to maintain the advantage gained in the southern state under the popular Veerashaiva-Lingayat leader.

The chief minister said he will also call on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and discuss about development issues related to Karnataka.

Yediyurappa was sworn in as Chief Minister of the state for the fourth time on July 26, three days after the collapse of the Congress-JD(S) government with the defeat of the motion of confidence moved by the then chief minister H D Kumaraswamy in the assembly by 99-105 votes.

Speaking to reporters, Yediyurappa said there was no need for him to travel to Delhi, as he has already had discussion with Shah and has got approval for the exercise.

As the Chief Minister is scheduled to travel to Davos to attend the World Economic Forum meet, the very next day- January 19, the Ministry expansion exercise is likely to take place only after his return.

As Yediyurappa acceded to his request, the seer said he was not threatening him but was putting forward the rights of the community.

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, Union Ministers D V Sadananda Gowda and Pralhad Joshi and state Revenue Minister R Ashoka were present to welcome Modi.

Many aspirants have made a beeline for the Chief Minister, seeking to push their case. The minister for health and family welfare B Sriramulu is keen to get the post of Deputy Chief Minister.

Yediyurappa said he has been asked to go to Delhi after a week to discuss the expansion exercise as BJP National President Amit Shah was busy with the Jharkhand assembly polls and other matters.

The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader also accused the B S Yediyurappa-led BJP government in the state of doing nothing for the flood victims.

Yediyurappa has sought to reach out to the sulking MLAs, specifically eight-time Hukkeri MLA Umesh Katti, whom several legislators who could not make it to the Ministry reportedly met.

This will be the first ever expansion of Yediyurappas ministry after he assumed office on July 26 and proved his government's majority on the floor of the Assembly on July 29.

In a surprise move, the government has also moved out both Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Mangaluru City Sandeep Patil and Hanumantharaya, who were involved in Cafe Coffee Day founder V G Siddhartha's death probe.