Speaking to the media in Davanagere ahead of the April 9 Assembly bypoll, Somanna cautioned the Chief Minister against making “light” remarks about others. The BJP leader, who represents Tumakuru in the Lok Sabha, was responding to Siddaramaiah’s comment on X that “Somanna is a minister with no work in the BJP. No files come to him.”
“If the Chief Minister has any doubts about my work, let him spend an hour or two at my office in Delhi and see for himself,” Somanna said. He also urged Siddaramaiah to visit the railway tunnel project at Kukke Subramanya in Dakshina Kannada to get a first-hand view of the work executed under his supervision.
Noting that both leaders share a common political past and had served together as ministers, Somanna said the Chief Minister’s recent remarks were “distressing”. He accused Siddaramaiah of not keeping pace with technological advancements and being “out of touch”.
Listing his achievements, Somanna said that since assuming office, he has facilitated the introduction of 18 new trains for South India and the addition of 62 stoppages. A detailed project report for the Bhadravathi–Chikkajajur line is under preparation, while doubling works on the Chikkajajur–Ballari section are set to commence shortly.
He added that Rs 58,000 crore has been sanctioned to expedite 11 pending railway projects in Karnataka, while 61 stations are being upgraded at a cost of Rs 1,900 crore. Over the past 11 years, 1,657 km of railway lines have been added in the state, with electrification reaching 97%.
Somanna further said work on the Tumakuru–Chitradurga–Davanagere line is progressing, with train services between Chitradurga and Davanagere expected to commence by March 2027.
