A year gone... K’taka had expected a lot more

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT
Bengaluru

It has been a roller coaster ride for Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai who will complete one year in office today. He took over the mantle after his predecessor, B.S.Yediyurappa reluctantly agreed to hand over the baton after much cajoling followed by a warning by the party high command.

When Bommai took the oath of secrecy at Raj Bhavan on July 28, 2021, the state was reeling under a severe financial crisis due to the dip in resource mobilisation in key-departments like Excise, Stamps & Registration and Motor Vehicles following the Covid-19 pandemic. The government coffers were almost empty since funds had gone for the improvement of healthcare because the pandemic had snuffed out the lives of several thousands of people and had left lakhs orphaned.

Yediyurappa who had received a clear message from the party high command to quit soon after completing 79 years, had lost control over the administration. His son, B.Y. Vijayendra was accused of ‘striking deals’ on behalf of his father, besides meddling in the affairs of several departments that had hurt several senior ministers. Some of them had brought it to the notice of Delhi leaders. To retain his control over the new government, Yediyurappa had recommended that his lieutenant and Home Minister Basavaraja Bommai be named his successor. The rest is history.

As Bommai took over the reins of administration, he had to battle the COVID- 19 pandemic after experts warned of a possible fourth wave, by setting in place healthcare systems which was not done by his predecessor for which innocent people paid the price. To avoid such embarrassment, Bommai streamlined the health department and kept it ready to face any eventuality. Luckily, the later waves of the pandemic did not lead to many human casualties.

When the government was in the takeoff stage, Bommai had to face a couple of by-polls due to the resignation and death of sitting legislators. The biggest shock came when the ruling BJP lost the Hangal seat which had been won by party veteran C.M.Udasi and was a constituency in the CM’s home turf; He however managed to pull off a dramatic victory in Sindagi.

This was followed by the biennial elections to the State Legislative Council from local bodies in which the sitting BJP MLC lost to an independent candidate and brother of former minister, Ramesh Jarkiholi. The real woes for the Bommai government began when unprecedented & unseasonal rains lashed Bengaluru city for almost ten days which exposed the crumbling infrastructure in the IT/BT capital. Boats were deployed to rescue people who were stuck in apartments as several housing colonies were inundated in rain water for three to four days. Roads became non-motorable and the UGD system went for a toss.

Nature’s fury exposed how successive governments had neglected the development of infrastructure in the Silicon Valley of India. Bengalureans lambasted the BJP government for its failure to address infrastructure issues in 2019 and cursed the CM for not transferring the Bengaluru City Development portfolio to another capable minister.

The Bommai government was heavily trolled in social media in the absence of effective governance in the state. While the government somehow managed to tackle the floods in other districts, it failed completely in Bengaluru which became a weapon for the Opposition Congress Party to attack the government.

Contractor’s suicide

The alleged suicide of a Belagavi-based contractor in a lodge in Udupi forced Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Minister K.S.Eshwarappa to resign. Before ending his life, the contractor had accused the minister of demanding 40 per cent commission from him for bill clearance. Owing to pressure from the Congress Party, the minister stepped down from his post. Recently, he was given a clean chit by the investigative agency but the commission allegation is still fresh in public memory.

Poor record on law & order front

The brutal killing of Bajrang Dal activist Harsha created communal tension in Shivamogga district. A minor clash occurred between two communities but was managed by the local police. The communally sensitive Hubballi City also witnessed a bout of violence after a person posted objectionable content about a community in social media. Several persons were injured in the violent clashes in the city.

Hijab row

The hijab row which began from a college in Dakshina Kannada, became an international issue thanks to its inept handling at the initial stage. The row spread to other districts and created unrest in society and a division between Hindus and Muslims.

This row was followed by boycott of Halal cut meat, boycott of Muslims traders, ransacking of a fruit stall owned by a