Demand For Free Electricity Grows As Power Tariff Hiked by 70 Paisa in Karnataka

Will the Congress government keep its poll promise by giving free electricity of 200 units to people in Karnataka? If yes, is it for all or will there be given to some sections of the society? These are some of the questions that are lingering in people's minds as Siddaramaiah is set to become the new Chief Minister of the state.

As people eagerly await the state government's order on free electricity, there are reports of people refusing to pay the monthly bill for this month claiming that Congress has promised to give free power of 200 units.

BJP leader Amit Malviya had recently posted a video in which people in Chitradurga claim that they will not pay the electricity bill for this month. "Villagers in Chitradurga refuse to pay the electricity bill. Exhort others also not to pay! They tell the bill collector that Congress had promised them free electricity, as soon as they came to power... Go take it from them (Congress), they say... If Congress doesn't give a CM soon, there will be chaos all around...," he wrote on Twitter.

This seems to be now spreading to other places like Koppal and Kalaburagi as people claim that they will not pay the bill as the Congress has promised to give 200 units free electricity if it comes to power.

"We won't pay the current bill. No matter what, we are promised 200 units of free power and we will have it. Even if the CM is not there yet," India Today quoted a person from Koppal as saying.

Amid these developments, the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has given a nod to raise the power tariff by 70 paise per unit. The new tariff has come into effect from April 1.

"To bridge the approved revenue gap of Rs 4,457.12 crore, the commission has approved an average increase in consumer tariff by 70 paise per unit in all categories, which accounts for an overall increase of 8.31 per cent," a KERC order said.

On the other hand, D K Shivakumar, who will be Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, has assured that Congress will fulfil all its "guarantees" to the people.

As per a report, the Congress needs an additional 7,000-8,000 crore to implement this poll promise.