Mangaluru: Has the absence of JD(S) in the coastal districts denied the region of any budget benefits? This doubt has been raised by various sections of society as the budget has not given any specific project to the coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada. People feel that the concern which Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy used to express about the problems of arecanut growers, fishermen and infrastructure in the coastal region before the elections, has failed to materialise as projects. Kumaraswamy had also declared that though his party may not get any seat in DK and Udupi, he would work for the development of the region. But the budget has failed to give any projects to DK and Udupi. People feel they have been targeted as people of the region had not supported the JD(S).

“It looks like Kumaraswamy has targeted DK and Udupi district as the two districts did not support JD(S). Had he won at least one seat here, he would have provided some project. There are several long standing demands of the people which the CM should have addressed. He should have provided help to the areca growers and fishermen. He visits various temples, in his budget, he could have provided help for temple tourism,” says activist MG Hegde. “Minister U.T. Khader too has failed. All the MLAs of the region should protest against this,” he added.

BJP leaders too expressed their anger. "During his meeting with the intellectuals in Mangaluru in March, Kumaraswamy had defined Mangaluru as the most important city next to Bengaluru and had stressed the need for development of Mangaluru. But in his entire budget speech, there is no mention of Mangaluru. We have been completely neglected," says former MLC and BJP spokesperson Monappa Bhandary.

"The coastal districts provide the highest revenue to the state government and now we are neglected. Why should people pay tax? They should protest and stop paying tax and show their anger," he opined. "He has provided help to the horticulutre growers of old Mysuru region but not our people. Usually, budgets declare some programme for fishermen. But in this budget, there is no programme for the fishermen of the coast. Even in fishing, he has declared help for inland fishing! It is sea fishing which helps in securing foreign exchange and revenue for the government," he added.