Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], July 14 (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said that neither he nor his office was consulted for the finalisation of inauguration event date of Kalasavalli-Ambargondlu Bridge in Shivamogga district by the Union Ministry.

The Chief Minister further said that the official invitation was received merely three days prior to the event, to which his office responded about his prior commitment to a state-level inauguration and requested that the event be rescheduled.

In a social media post on X, the Chief Minister wrote, 'Your response on the Shivamogga event is noted. However, I wish to place on record that neither I nor my office was consulted before your Ministry finalized the programme and publicly circulated the invitation with my name printed on it.'

'In fact, the official invitation was received only on 11th July 2025, merely three days prior to the event. On the same day, my office responded, informing you of my prior commitment to a state-level inauguration of irrigation and development projects at Indi, Vijayapura, and requested that the event be rescheduled,' the CM added.

https://x.com/siddaramaiah/status/1944703600451825813

Criticising the Centre, Siddaramaiah remarked that true cooperative federalism demands meaningful engagement with state governments before finalizing public programmes of such importance.

The social media post further reads, 'A communication sent just three days in advance, after public invitations have been issued, cannot be construed as due consultation or coordination. True cooperative federalism demands meaningful engagement with State Governments before finalizing public programmes of such importance.'

'I remain committed to partnering with the Union Government in the service of Karnataka's people. I sincerely hope that future engagements will reflect proper consultation, coordination, and mutual respect between the Centre and the States,' it added.

His remarks came after Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple key infrastructure projects, including the Kalasavalli-Ambargondlu Bridge in Shivamogga.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his cabinet colleagues, and Congress MLAs boycotted the event as a mark of protest after the CM's request to postpone the event on another date was rejected by the Centre. (ANI)