Karnataka minister faces social reactions for giving costly Diwali gifts

Hospet: Karnataka Tourism Minister Anand Singh has landed in trouble for splurging lavish Diwali gifts on the elected members of his Hospet constituency.
The controversy erupted soon after the pictures of the pricey gift boxes emerged on social media. The internet users flayed Singh for his gift-giving code of behavior. The boxes contained gold, silver, clothing, a wad of currency and invitation cards for Laxmi Pooja at his home.
The minister gifted two different boxes for municipal corporation and gram panchayat members. The municipal members received lavish boxes containing Rs 1 lakh, 144 grams gold, 1 kg silver, and a dry fruit box. a loincloth and a silk saree.
On the other hand, the boxes for gram panchayat members contained everything, except gold and a lesser amount of cash that were given to municipal members.
A few elected members reportedly rejected the gifts and linked the issue with an impending assembly election in the state next year.
The Hospet constituency consists of a single municipal corporation with 35 elected and 5 nominated members, and 10 gram panchayats with 182 members. (UNI)