Hubballi, Karnataka, January 24, 2026 – Under a canopy of jubilant cheers and the rhythmic beat of dhol drums, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today presided over a grand PMAY housewarming extravaganza at Mantur Road Grounds, symbolically handing over keys to 42,345 newly constructed homes to beneficiaries from Karnataka's most vulnerable urban pockets. The event, a cornerstone of the Congress government's welfare architecture, drew a constellation of state cabinet heavyweights, transforming the 10.5-acre venue into a pulsating hub of political solidarity and populist promise. As confetti rained down and families clutched their deeds with tear-streaked smiles, the gathering – attended by over 1.5 lakh people – underscored not just housing milestones but the administration's bid to reclaim narrative dominance in a BJP-stronghold north Karnataka ahead of the 2028 polls.
The Karnataka Slum Development Board (KSDB)-orchestrated distribution, held from 11 a.m. to late afternoon amid tight security and flawless logistics, marked a high-water mark for the Siddaramaiah regime's second year. Funded through a ₹9,500 crore cocktail of central Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) outlays (₹1.5 lakh per unit) and state supplements, the initiative targets slum-dwellers in 15 districts, with Hubballi-Dharwad's 1,008 units stealing the spotlight as local success stories. "These aren't just bricks and mortar; they're blueprints for dignity, stability, and a future unshackled from evictions," Siddaramaiah proclaimed from the flower-garlanded dais, his voice booming over 24 giant LED screens that beamed the ceremony to overflow crowds snaking along Mantur Road.
#### Cabinet Convergence: A Show of Unity in the Heart of BJP Territory
In a rare full-court press, nearly the entire Karnataka cabinet descended on Hubballi, blending ceremonial gravitas with on-ground endorsements that amplified the event's optics. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, fresh from Davos schmoozes with global investors, anchored the proceedings with his trademark charisma, distributing keys to the first batch of 500 beneficiaries – many from Hubballi's Akshay Colony and Line Bazaar slums. "This is Congress governance at its finest: promises kept, not postponed," Shivakumar thundered, flanked by irrigation engineers who highlighted how PMAY integrations with his portfolio's canal networks ensured water access in new homes.
Home Minister G. Parameshwara, overseeing a beefed-up security ring of 1,500 personnel, lauded the "peaceful execution" amid lingering BJP protests from the previous day. "We've turned potential flashpoints into festivals of hope," he noted, crediting his department's pre-event liaison with local police to avert disruptions. Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil, a north Karnataka veteran, wove in legislative wins, reminding the crowd of the cabinet's recent Ninth Schedule push to safeguard land reforms for the poor.
At the epicenter stood Housing Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan, whose portfolio birthed the spectacle. Khan, sleeves rolled up from dawn patrols, personally verified beneficiary lists on-site, ensuring zero "ghost allotments" through Aadhaar-linked digitization. "We've battled monsoons, delays, and doubters to deliver 36,000 homes in 2024 alone – and today, we double down," he declared, echoing KSDB Chairman Prasad Abbayya's field reports of 95% completion rates statewide. Abbayya, the Hubballi East MLA and event co-architect, doubled as emcee, spotlighting testimonials from recipients like 62-year-old tailor Rajamma, whose two-room PMAY flat – fitted with solar panels and rainwater harvesting – symbolized eco-conscious upliftment.
Other cabinet stalwarts added layers: Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda fast-tracked title deeds via on-the-spot revenue camps; Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao pledged free check-ups for new homeowners; and Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh unveiled tie-ups with municipal corporations for sewerage extensions. Even Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy chipped in, coordinating 1,000 NWKRTC buses that ferried attendees from as far as Vijayapura, complete with millet-laddu snack kits sourced from women's self-help groups.
#### Logistics Masterstroke and Lingering Echoes of Protest
The Mantur Road venue, a verdant expanse ringed by eucalyptus groves, pulsed with efficiency: color-coded parking for 1,600 vehicles, sign-language interpreters for the hearing-impaired, and ramps for 5,000 wheelchair users. Fireworks capped the afternoon, but not without a nod to yesterday's BJP rally – where opposition cries of "protocol breach" over Union Minister Pralhad Joshi's snub fizzled into footnotes. AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge's virtual message, beamed live, quipped: "Housing isn't a handout; it's a hand up – and today, Karnataka extends it widest."
Critics, including BJP's Mahesh Tenginakai, boycotted but fired salvos on X, branding it a "Congress credit heist" on Yediyurappa-era foundations. Yet, for beneficiaries like single mother Lakshmi, clutching her key fob, metrics mattered more: "From a leaking shack to this? It's a dream scripted by the stars – and our ministers."
As twilight cloaked Hubballi, the cabinet's convoy rolled out, leaving behind a blueprint for emulation. In a state where urban migration swells slums yearly, today's Mantur milestone – ₹310 crore recouped from beneficiaries toward a 2.3 lakh-home target – signals ambition undimmed. For Siddaramaiah's squad, it's more than roofs: it's re-roofing a regime's resilience, one key at a time.
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