KPSC may remain headless for some more time

Bengaluru: The state government is not showing much interest in scouting for a suitable candidate for the post of Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) chairman after Governor Vajubai Vala refused to give his assent to make former chairman of the State Legislative Council and senior Congress leader V.R. Sudarshan, who has been accused of land grab, the KPSC chief.

While, Mr Vala said yes to the appointment of a few members recommended by the government for KPSC, he was against the appointment of Mr Sudarshan. Though eight months have passed, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah does not seem to be in the mood to appoint an apolitical person despite demands from various quarters.

Sources close to the CM told Deccan Chronicle; “The CM is very busy rejuvenating his party for the ZP/TP elections which will be held anytime now. So, this issue has been deferred indefinitely till Mr Siddaramaiah gets time to look for a suitable candidate to head the KPSC which has been mired in controversies", the sources added. The sources admitted that Mr Siddaramaiah was undecided whether to have a senior neta or a retired bureaucrat to head the commission. Having understood the governor's mindset towards politicians recommended by the ruling party, the option was to look for a non-controversial retired bureaucrat or a senior politician with a clean slate. The government does not want to be embarrassed yet again after seeing proposals being rejected by Mr Vala. “In all probability, the commission will remain headless for a few more months,” said sources.

Meanwhile, Yesvanthpur MLA S.T. Somashekar, an architect of the Congress-JD(S) alliance in BBMP, has written to the CM for expediting the process of appointment of the chairman. He told this paper that the government must exhibit the urgency shown in the appointment of the new Lokayukta in appointing the KPSC chief too.