Karnataka deputy CM and state Cong chief DK Shivakumar

BENGALURU: Two dozen civic amenity sites across several urban local bodies in Karnataka were allotted to Congress Bhavan Trust to build party offices at the district and taluk levels, data from municipal administrations and urban development departments shows. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, also state Congress chief, has set a target of constructing 100 Congress Bhavans across the state and had planned to lay foundation stones for several of them on the day he completed six years as KPCC president later this year. Of the 24 sites, the municipal administration department allotted 12 plots valued at over Rs 5 crore, while the urban development department allotted another 12 plots worth more than Rs 12 crore. BJP has criticised the move, alleging Congress acquired properties worth Rs 40 crore for Rs 2 crore at 31 locations, including these 24 sites. But Shivakumar defended the allotments, saying Congress was using govt land. Opposition leader in the legislative council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy issued a warning that BJP would launch a protest if govt failed to withdraw the allocations.