Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday, 16 September announced that senior Indian National Congress (INC) leaders would convene a meeting to guide the party's newly appointed district presidents across Karnataka. The Chief Minister made the remarks while speaking to reporters at Sadashivanagar in Bengaluru.

Congress High Command Meeting for District Presidents

'New district presidents have been appointed and the high command leaders have called a meeting to guide them,' Shivakumar told reporters. The meeting was convened in the context of the arrival of All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala and AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal, the Chief Minister confirmed.

The development signals an active organisational push by the Congress in Karnataka, with the high command taking a hands-on role in orienting freshly installed district-level leadership — a move that typically precedes intensified ground-level mobilisation ahead of local body or state-level political activity.

Shivakumar's Three-Day District Tour

The Chief Minister also outlined a three-day tour beginning Thursday, covering Kalaburagi, Mangaluru, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, and Hassan. Shivakumar said discussions on drought and the Kasturirangan report would also feature during the ongoing Legislative Assembly session.

₹1,775 Crore Development Push in Kalyana Karnataka

State Home, IT-BT and e-Governance Minister and Kalaburagi district in-charge minister Priyank Kharge, addressing a press conference at the Ivan-e-Shahi Guest House in Bengaluru on Wednesday, said Chief Minister Shivakumar would launch development works worth ₹1,775.41 crore in the Kalyana Karnataka region during his visit for the Kalyana Karnataka Utsav.

According to Kharge, Shivakumar would arrive in Kalaburagi by special flight in the evening and inaugurate the Street Festival at the Public Garden, followed by an inspection of works at Appa Lake. On Thursday morning, the Chief Minister would garland the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at S.V.P. Circle at 8.30 am and hoist the national flag at the Police Parade Ground as part of the Utsav celebrations.

At the same venue, Shivakumar would lay foundation stones for 557 works costing ₹1,071.56 crore across the seven districts of the region, including 223 works worth ₹1,105.63 crore in Kalaburagi district alone. He would additionally launch 244 works costing ₹703.85 crore. In total, 801 works worth ₹1,775.41 crore are slated to be launched, Kharge said.

Drought Declaration and NDRF Guidelines

On the question of declaring drought, Kharge said such a declaration could only be made in accordance with the guidelines of the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). He stated that the state government had urged the Centre to simplify these guidelines, but the Union government had not responded so far.

'This is causing injustice to our farmers. We will observe the rainfall situation for another two weeks, obtain reports from the districts and take further action,' Kharge said. He accused the Opposition of agitating unnecessarily for a drought declaration and argued they should instead press the Union government to simplify NDRF guidelines to ensure justice for farmers.

ST Certificates for Talwar Community

Responding to questions on the issuance of Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates to members of the Talwar community, Kharge said the then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had issued the relevant order after holding discussions with community leaders during the previous Belagavi Assembly session. 'ST certificates are being issued to eligible persons accordingly. There is no confusion in this matter. Our government is resolving, step by step, the confusion created by the earlier Basavaraj Bommai government,' he said. MLC Tippannappa Kamaknoor and JESCOM Chairman Praveen Patil Harawal were present at the press conference.

The twin announcements — a Congress organisational reset and a major infrastructure outlay — set the political and developmental tone for the Karnataka government's near-term agenda, with drought relief policy and tribal certification remaining live pressure points.