Hubballi, Karnataka | January 25, 2026 – In a jubilant press conference at his residence in Hubballi's upscale Vikas Nagar on Sunday evening, Congress MLA and Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) Chairman Prasad Abbayya declared the previous day's golden jubilee celebrations of the Karnataka Slum Development Board (KSDB) a resounding triumph, crediting the event's unprecedented scale to the Congress government's unwavering commitment to the urban poor. With Chief Minister Siddaramaiah personally expressing "immense satisfaction" over the massive, inclusive crowd that transcended caste and community lines, Abbayya portrayed the gathering as a harbinger of a surging "Congress wave" sweeping through Hubballi-Dharwad and beyond.
The hour-long interaction with over two dozen journalists from local and state media outlets buzzed with optimism, as Abbayya, flanked by KSDB officials and party workers, replayed highlights from the mega event held at the Ambedkar Circle grounds. On Saturday, January 24, the celebrations marked 50 years of the KSDB's role in transforming the lives of slum dwellers across Karnataka. The centerpiece was the dedication of 42,345 houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) Urban 'Shelter for All' scheme, a collaborative effort between the state and Centre, though fully funded by Karnataka's coffers amid delays in central assistance. Allotment letters for 1,80,253 ongoing constructions statewide were also distributed, with Hubballi alone receiving keys to over 5,000 units.
"This was no ordinary event; it was a people's festival of hope and dignity," Abbayya proclaimed, his voice echoing the enthusiasm of the day before. "Over 250,000 attendees—men, women, youth from every community, be it Lingayat, Vokkaliga, SC/ST, OBC, or minorities—converged not just for houses, but for a vision of equitable growth. Hubballi, our industrial heartbeat, witnessed a massive wave of Congress supporters chanting 'Siddaramaiah Sher' and 'Congress Zindabad.' It wasn't orchestrated; it was organic, a testament to five decades of Congress-led welfare that the BJP could only dream of emulating."
Abbayya reserved special praise for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who graced the event as chief guest alongside Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. In a post-event call to Abbayya, the CM reportedly conveyed his delight, stating, "I'm very much satisfied—not just by the numbers, but by the unity. This crowd from all communities shows Karnataka's poor stand united behind Congress's guarantees. It's a slap to those who starved us of funds; we'll build more, faster." Siddaramaiah's words, shared verbatim by Abbayya, underscored the political subtext: the event doubled as a soft launch for Congress's outreach in the lead-up to local body polls, countering BJP's narrative of fiscal mismanagement.
The MLA detailed the logistical feats that made the mega event a success. Temporary pandals sheltered families from the winter chill, while cultural performances by folk artists from across the state— including Dollu Kunitha drummers and Yakshagana troupes—kept the energy high. Beneficiaries, many teary-eyed as they clutched their house documents, shared testimonials on stage. One such story was that of Savitri Bai, a 55-year-old widow from the Akshay Colony slum: "For 20 years, I dreamed of a roof over my head. Today, thanks to Congress, my daughters have a home. This isn't charity; it's justice." Over 200 such narratives were amplified via live streams on Congress's official X handle, amassing 1.2 million views by Sunday noon.
Abbayya didn't shy away from jabs at the opposition. He accused the previous BJP regime of "sabotaging" PMAY by diverting funds to "glitzy projects," leaving 1.5 lakh urban poor in limbo. "Under Siddaramaiah, we've cleared backlogs, infused ₹2,500 crore from state coffers, and accelerated PMAY to deliver 50,000 houses this fiscal alone. The BJP talks 'double-engine growth'; we deliver double the homes." He highlighted Hubballi's transformation: from a city of tin sheds to one of model townships, with the KHB's 'Hubli Smart City' extension promising 10,000 more units by 2027.
The presser also touched on broader implications for North Karnataka's political landscape. "This wave isn't fleeting; it's tidal," Abbayya asserted, pointing to swelling party memberships—up 30% in Hubballi-Dharwad district since the government's formation in May 2023. Youth wings reported a 40% spike in enrollments post-event, drawn by promises like the 'Gruha Jyothi' free electricity scheme and 'Anna Bhagya' rice distribution, both flagged by Kharge in his Saturday speech. Local BJP leaders, caught off-guard, issued a tepid statement dismissing the turnout as "subsidized spectacle," but social media metrics tell a different story: Congress hashtags like #HousingForAllKarnataka trended statewide, outpacing rivals by 3:1.
As the conference wrapped, Abbayya fielded questions on sustainability, vowing eco-friendly designs in new projects—rainwater harvesting, solar panels—and skill-training tie-ups with ITIs for beneficiaries. "Houses aren't endpoints; they're launchpads for self-reliance," he said, echoing Siddaramaiah's vision of 'Nava Karnataka Nidhi.'
Held in the modest yet warmly lit drawing room of his residence—a stone's throw from the KHB headquarters—the event symbolized accessibility, with Abbayya serving filter coffee and benne dosas to reporters. No disruptions marred the proceedings, though a lone BJP worker outside waved placards protesting "vote-bank politics."
For Hubballi's underprivileged, Saturday's spectacle was more than a milestone; it was a mirror to Congress's revivalist zeal. As Abbayya signed off, "The people have spoken through their feet—marching towards progress, one home at a time." With the CM's nod and the crowd's roar still fresh, the Congress appears poised to ride this housing high into electoral waters, one brick at a time.
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