Board posts: Wait just got longer

Bengaluru: The wait for aspirants in the ruling party could get longer with KPCC president Dr. G. Parameshwar on Wednesday admitting that the party was yet to receive nominations from at least 38 Assembly constituencies for appointment of chairpersons of state-owned boards and corporations.

The much-awaited meeting between him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was put off yet again, but the KPCC chief told media persons: “It is only in a matter of time that the appointments will be completed.  Neither the CM nor I are trying to delay the appointments but the process has been hit by a minor glitch with district Congress presidents not sending the complete list of nominations. At least 38 Assembly seats will go underrepresented if we complete the process now. Therefore, we have sent reminders to DCC presidents to send the nominations.”

According to him, the party had not formulated any guidelines for these appointments but broadly decided that preference should be given to those who were denied tickets to contest last year’s polls to the Assembly or the Council. “Be it defeated MLA or elected, we are not going to deny anyone their due. But once the list for chairpersons’ posts is finalised, both the CM and myself will go to Delhi to hold further consultations,” he added.

He said those who worked for the party would be rewarded this time. “It is not that only MLAs or defeated MLAs who are strong leaders in our party. There are leaders who are much more powerful than MLAs in some constituencies but were not given tickets to contest. Such leaders need to be rewarded,” he said adding “We have already identified such leaders.”
Dr. Parameshwar also clarified that he was not trying to block expansion of the cabinet. “Who am I to block any such activity which is the prerogative of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah?” he asked.