Published Nov 29, 2023 | 1:23 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 29, 2023 | 1:23 PM
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah. (supplied)
The ruling Congress in Karnataka has said a list of legislators and party workers to be appointed in key posts of various state-run boards and corporations is ready, even as some differences cropped up in the party, with Home Minister G Parameshwara saying he was not consulted.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the list has been sent to the party high command. Once it is approved, the selected legislators will be appointed first, followed by party workers.
Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala was in the city on on Tuesday, 28 November, to discuss the names with the party’s state leadership. Last week, too, he had held discussions on the issue in Bengaluru.
“We have prepared a list and sent it to the high command. After the high command’s approval, we will make the appointments,” Siddaramaiah told reporters after meeting with Surjewala.
This comes in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha and Karnataka local body elections.
Over five months after coming to power, the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government is yet to appoint heads of the various boards and corporations. The Karnataka Congress is also yet to choose working presidents after incumbents have been accommodated as ministers in the Cabinet.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said that, in the first phase, MLAs will be appointed, and in the second and third phases, party workers will be considered.
In October, on condition of anonymity, a senior Congress leader and office-bearer had told South First: “These appointments will play a key role in cooling off dissent. The chief minister has already discussed this, but expressed honouring chairmanship of boards and corporations only to MLAs and MLCs.”
The Congress leader added: “The chief minister is planning to entrust the responsibility of boards and corporations to around 25-30 legislators instead of party workers. However, in exceptional cases, the party is likely to entrust a few boards and corporations to party workers.”
He further said: “The leadership does not want to create rifts within the party while making these appointments. Hence, to avoid dissent and other issues, it has decided to give chairmanships of most of the boards and corporations to legislators.”
Earlier, Surjewala had said, “The proposal envisions a strategic reshaping of the party cadre, recognising the dual roles held by many of our office-bearers who are MLAs or ministers. The proposal advocates relieving the current office-bearers of their organisational responsibilities.”
Fresh talent would replace them, Surjewala said, adding that the new faces would have the calibre to become future lawmakers.
“This strategic reallocation is envisioned to enhance efficiency within the party’s organisational framework, ensuring a seamless distribution of responsibilities. We are committed to fostering a rejuvenated and forward-looking party,” he said.
Home Minister Parameshwara earlier in the day on Tuesday indicated his reservation about the process and openly stated that he was not consulted.
Speaking to reporters, he said in response to a question: “No, I have not been consulted. If consulted, it would have been good. I was party president for eight years and could have given suggestions as to who would be politically beneficial in the current situation and also on seniority.”
He continued, “They (party leadership) too are aware of it, but if we were also consulted it would have been good. They may finally decide after taking the high command’s consent; let them do it.”
The minister also said he was not aware of when the list would be finalised.
Reacting to Parameshwara’s statement, Siddaramaiah said that no leader has been contacted, as the process is still at the “preliminary stage”.
“Not only Parameshwara, no one’s opinion has been taken yet. It (discussion) is still at the preliminary stage… The list has not yet been finalised, so for me to comment on it will not be right,” he said.
There has been some disgruntlement and growing impatience within a section of the Congress party. Some legislators who did not make it to the Cabinet and were aspiring for key posts in boards and corporations are unhappy about the delay in appointments.
Other party members are also upset about the “delay in rewarding loyal workers” despite the Congress having been in power for more than six months now.
Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President DK Shivakumar, ahead of the meeting on Tuesday, said, “It is our routine work, it’s party work… He (Surjewala) was busy (all these days). We have held two to three rounds of meetings. Today also we will be meeting. The list has to go to Delhi. After that, we will make the information known.”
He had recently indicated that about 15 to 20 party MLAs and MLCs would be accommodated in key positions, and the rest of the posts would be distributed among loyal party workers.
Appointments to boards and corporations are said to be among the issues on which Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had certain differences of opinion, according to party sources.
(With PTI inputs)
