BBMP polls: Bengaluru bosses want board appointments put on hold

Belagavi: With the state election commission announcing the calendar of events for elections to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on July 28, a section of city leaders have reportedly requested Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that appointments to state-run boards and corporations be postponed till the election process is completed.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader said, “Even though Mr Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, Dr G. Parameshwar have finalized almost 750 names for filling up member and director posts in various boards and corporations, now the CM seem to have applied the brakes on most of these appointments.”

According to a source, leaders from Bengaluru will bear the brunt of the delay. “Though not all appointments can be put on hold, those involving city leaders have been put off,” the source explained.

The source added that city leaders felt that appointments to these boards and corporations were a gift for party workers but could prove to be the nemesis for the Congress if the situation is not handled properly ahead of the crucial BBMP polls. “City leaders also suggested that the CM adopt the same stand he had been maintaining on cabinet expansion on these appointments too. The CM too was convinced and has issued oral instructions to bureaucrats not to issue any orders on the appointments till the BBMP elections are over,” the source added.