BENGALURU: Karnataka government is planning to buy new vehicles for all the ministers in the cabinet. 9.9 crores have been allocated for the purchase of Innova Hycross hybrid cars for all 33 ministers. The new vehicles will be procured under the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act without tendering. After allowing Rs 10 crores to buy vehicles for ministers, the opposition has come out with criticism.

BJP questioned the use of such a high amount to buy vehicles instead of spending it on development activities. However, Congress, confident of implementing its main election promise, the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, has come out to defend the opposition's allegations. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar explained that the new vehicles are to ensure the safety of ministers as they have to travel long distances. He said that Karnataka ministers do not have chartered planes or helicopters.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had launched the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, which provides Rs 2,000 per month to women from BPL families. Rahul initiated the scheme by transferring money to the beneficiary's account. Four other important promises of the Congress are Shakti which allows free travel for women in buses, Gruha Jyothi which gives free electricity up to 200 units, Anna Bhagya which gives ten kg of rice for free, Yuva Nidhi which gives 3000 and 1500 rupees each to unemployed graduates and diploma holders.