Congress deals with Board, Corpn appointments aftermath

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that aspirants for the chairpersons’ posts of various Boards and Corporations would get their chance two years down the line.

He was referring to the term of the chairpersons’ posts being two years. He reiterated that 39 MLAs would be appointed, adding that the rest of the appointees would be party workers.

There are 90 Boards and Corporations in Karnataka. “Everyone has aspirations and ambitions for position and power. The tenure of these positions is only for two years and there will be fresh appointments once again after two years. We will give opportunities to fresh faces then. Party leaders and workers have to manage the responsibility given by the party. There is no need to worry, the hard working party workers will be rewarded in the next list,” Shivakumar said.

“As many as 39 MLAs have been accommodated in the first list as per the promises made by the party. We can't say we have satisfied everyone as there were two to three aspirants for each position.

Some have been accommodated now and the rest will be accommodated for the next tenure. We will keep our word. We have created new positions to accommodate more party workers. Party workers will be given opportunities in hospital committees, bagair hukum (land given without title deed) committees, ashraya (shelter) committees and municipalities,” he added.

Everyone consulted: DKS

Shivakumar pushed back against the notion that state leaders were not consulted as far as appointment of party workers was concerned. The list for the same has not been disclosed.

Ministers such as G Parameshwara, KN Rajanna and Satish Jarkiholi have expressed this sentiment in public.

“Appointments to Boards and Corporations were finalised only after collecting opinions of everyone. The Chief Minister, General Secretary (Randeep Singh Surjewala) and myself had thoroughly discussed the choices. Many leaders had even given letters recommending certain people for the positions, but we can't make the letters public,” he said.

When pointed out that the Sports minister (B Nagendra) would be the default head of the Karnataka Sports Authority (KSA), he said: "The bylaw was introduced during SM Krishna's time, it would be amended shortly.”

Hungund MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar was appointed as the KSA chair on Friday.

Replying to a reporter's query on MLA Narendra Swamy's appointment to Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC), he said, “The matter is in the court. He will be accommodated once the case is cleared.”

Many declined offers: Dy CM

The Deputy CM disclosed that many MLAs had declined appointments to Boards and Corporations.

It came to light that MLA Subba Reddy had declined an appointment to a body.

“It is not just him. Many others have also said no. MLAs Tukaram, Tanvir Sait, Raghavendra, Rizwan Arshad have all declined the positions,” Shivakumar said.

“High Command hasn’t changed any list. It has approved the list sent by us,” he added.