Bengaluru (DHNS): It was a show of unity and strength by the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government at Chitradurga on Saturday.

On the day the government stepped into its fifth year, many Cabinet colleagues expressed solidarity with the chief minister by complimenting him for his governance and for launching various welfare schemes.

The government had organised a public function at Chitradurga to distribute benefits under the welfare schemes to mark the completion of four years in office. The programme was also to drive home the point that the government had ‘delivered as promised’ in the election manifesto in 2013.

Scores of party workers from eight districts of Bengaluru region had assembled. The highlight of the event was that not less than half-a-dozen senior ministers shared the dais with Siddaramaiah to indicate that there are no differences among the seniors. In addition, they declared that the party would face the next Assembly elections under Siddaramaiah.

The chief minister said, “Parameshwara is our party president. The party will go to the 2018 polls under my leadership. We will unitedly come before you (people). Bless us again.”

In an aggressive but impressive speech, Siddaramaiah said, “Voters are our God. We have walked the talk in the last four years. Clean, transparent and sincere administration has been given,” he said. He also used the occasion to present his government’s progress report.

The chief minister said the plus point of his government was provision of food, health cover and houses to the needy. The next polls would be fought on development issues. Voters would not let the Congress down, he said confidently.

Siddaramaiah said BJP leaders are sitting in a glass house and throwing stones at the Congress. The vocation of state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa is to utter lies. His allegations have no significance, he added.

Earlier, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee?President G Parameshwara and Energy Minister D?K?Shivakumar said, “Do not have any doubts...We will come before you under the leadership of Siddaramaiah.” Ministers T?B Jayachandra, Kagodu Thimmappa and Umashree placed before the crowd the ‘list of achievements’ of various departments. They complimented Siddaramaiah for his style of functioning. Minister H?Anjaneya, who is in-charge minister of Chitradurga, felicitated Siddaramaiah.

The chief minister distributed cultivation chits, land possession certificates and loans to unemployed youths. He also launched schemes worth Rs 695 crore for drought-hit Chitradurga district.