Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday paid a courtesy call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and met several Union ministers, including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.
It also happened to be Siddaramaiah's 76th birthday and he had a busy day meeting the prime minister and Union ministers besides Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.
Siddaramaiah met Modi in the Parliament Complex and it was not known what was discussed in the meeting. The chief minister said it was just a courtesy call.
This is his first meeting with the prime minister since becoming the chief minister of Karnataka in May.
Later, he met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and requested him to hold an air show by the Indian Air Force in Mysuru during Dussehra celebrations from October 15-24.
The chief minister said the IAF had conducted air shows at the Torch Light Parade Ground in Mysuru in 2017 and 2019.
In his meeting with Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Siddaramaiah requested the central government's approval for nine proposals including measures to avoid accidents on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway.
He also demanded that the Centre make provisions for entry and exit bypasses to facilitate roadside amenities on this highway, besides the construction of a tunnel from Shirati Ghat to the Maranhalli-Addahole Section of NH-75.
The chief minister demanded the release of grants under the Central Road Infrastructure Funds amounting to Rs 1,000 crore in the current financial year for the improvement of state roads and major district roads.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar also met Gadkari separately. Shivakumar also met Petroleum and Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri at his office.
Siddaramaiah also met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and discussed issues related to Karnataka.
In the evening, the chief minister met senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Kharge separately and discussed political matters.
"Met former Congress President Shri Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi today and discussed various issues," the chief minister said on Twitter while sharing a picture with Gandhi, who also wished Siddaramaiah on his birthday.
Several party leaders extended birthday wishes to Siddaramaiah on Thursday at the Karnataka Bhavan here. After meeting Gandhi, he left for the airport.
Separately, Shivakumar met Rahul Gandhi at his residence.