Bengaluru, June 11 -- Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday made a strong pitch for greater Central support to the state's development agenda, holding separate meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi to press for key infrastructure and irrigation projects.

In his first meeting with the Prime Minister after assuming office as Chief Minister, Shivakumar discussed Karnataka's development priorities spanning infrastructure, investment, urban mobility, irrigation, innovation and welfare programmes.

Describing the interaction as constructive, he reiterated Karnataka's position as one of the country's leading growth engines and sought closer cooperation between the Centre...