Top posts in boards and corporations have always been a way to pacify the MLAs who are denied cabinet berths, or to reward a hardworking party worker. But, in Karnataka, the posts have created tension in the JD(S)-Congress coalition government, as both allies are fighting over the more "lucrative" ones.
The Congress party, which is fighting internal rebellion amid the looming threat of BJP's 'Operation Kamala' (poaching of rebel MLAs), had recommended a list of 19 MLAs who would be appointed as heads of various boards and corporations. But the list was cut down to 14 names, as Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy dropped five names before giving his approval. This triggered unrest in the Congress party.
The Congress high command had recommended Chikballapur MLA K. Sudhakar for the state pollution control board chairman's post. But, Sudhakar's name has been dropped from the list. The JD(S) considers it a Congress move to appoint its MLAs to the boards and corporations that fall under the departments held by JD(S) ministers.
The appointment of Congress legislators—T. Venkataramanappa (KRDL), S. N. Subba Reddy (sericulture board), N.A. Haris (BMRTC) and K. Sudhakar—to boards coming under the JD(S) ministers have been held back. Similarly, the appointment of Yeshwanthpur MLA S.T. Somashekhar as Bengaluru Development Authority chairman has been withheld, as deputy chief minister G. Parameshwar (the Bengaluru development minister) is not happy with the choice.
Interestingly, the chief minister has not issued appointment order in three more cases as the Congress party had finalised the list sans consultations with the JD(S). The chances of the chief minister approving the candidature of V. Muniyappa for chief minister's political secretary, and Ajay Singh for special representative in Delhi, now appear bleak. The chief minister has cleared the appointment of only 14 legislators for the boards and corporations and four as parliamentary secretaries.
Prior to this development, the chief minister's elder brother and PWD minister H.D. Revanna had asked the Congress "not to interfere" in his department. He had also expressed his displeasure over the Congress taking away the home department from deputy chief minister G. Parameshwara.
Responding to the criticism, KPCC chief Dinesh Gundu Rao has asked Revanna to avoid discussing anything in public, stating that the sharing of the boards and corporations had been worked out long back.
Meanwhile, disgruntled over being dropped from the list, Congress MLAs rushed to their party leaders to register their protest. Coordination committee chairman Siddaramaiah assured the MLAs that he would discuss the issue with the chief minister. Upset at being sidelined, MLA Sudhakar said the JD(S) had disrespected the Congress leadership and Rahul Gandhi by rejecting the recommendations made by them.
"It's a question of our party's dignity. The CM has not approved the appointment of five Congress MLAs to the boards and corporations. Let them give the posts to their own family members," said Sudhakar, sarcastically.
The JD(S) should realise that the Congress, which won 80 seats, extended support to JD(S) for the larger good. The Congress party should introspect too, said the legislator, who alleged the bureaucrats were calling the shots in the government. "Some bureaucrats want to control some posts even after their retirement. Now, what is the point in having a chief minister," asked Sudhakar.
Sudhakar hit back at JD(S) saying, "People who have not passed SSLC have been given two portfolios. So, I have no reason to believe our names were dropped on technical grounds. Moreover, I had not demanded the pollution control board chief's post. Only the chief minister can answer as to why some of us were denied the post."
The JD(S) leaders, who are holding marathon meetings to finalise the appointment to their quota of 10 boards and corporations, are unhappy that the bigger boards have been taken away by the Congress party.
"We have about 10 boards and there are many aspirants. Even the boards in our share are not big budget ones. However, I urge my MLAs to sacrifice these posts for the party workers. In an election year, it will definitely motivate the grassroots worker to see the party workers being rewarded, " said JD(S) national president H.D. Deve Gowda, while addressing the legislators in a recent party meeting.
