Bypoll results on Nov 10; Cabinet rejig is priority again for Yediyurappa

With the results of two Assembly by-polls in Karnataka scheduled on November 10, the cabinet expansion and reshuffle is back on the priority list for Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa. Since he came to power 15 months ago, the CM has either expanded or reshuffled his cabinet at least four times.

Every time there is a bypoll or a demand from an unhappy legislator or rebel candidate who switched to BJP, the CM rushes to Delhi to get the high command approval to induct them into the ministry or give them a plum post. This time too, some of the contenders have reached Delhi to lobby for the posts and the CM is likely to travel to Delhi post the election results.

Newly-elected MLCs R. Shankar and MTB Nagaraj, nominated MLC H. Vishwanath, MLC and Vokkaliga leader C.P. Yogeshwar, and Rajarajeshwari Nagar bypoll candidate Munirathna are all waiting for a cabinet berth. Every time the CM attempts a cabinet rejig, there’s unending back and forth between the central party high command and the CM, taking away his administrative time in handling the state affairs. It resulted in an administrative logjam in the state.

Also read: Karnataka Assembly bypolls: Prestige battle for Yediyurappa, Shivakumar

Delayed disbursement of flood relief funds and crop loss compensation to farmers,  non-allocation of development works to Kalyana Karnataka, the Hyderabad-Karnataka region, delay in appointment of teachers and other government staffs,  discontinuing social welfare schemes and programmes (like Shaadi bhagya scheme, Vidyagama education scheme),  the continuance of Indira Canteens, the appointment of Upa Lokayukta without following due process, are some of the administrative delays that plaguing the government.

For instance, the chairperson appointment to the Kalyana Karnataka Regional Development Board (KKRDB) took place almost a year after BJP came to power in the state. The Hyderabad-Karnataka region was granted Special Status under Article 371J, which reserves seats in educational institutes and government jobs for people living in the region. Appointment to the board came after one of the legislators, Dattatreya Patil Revoor threatened to quit along with 10 other MLAs from the region, if not given a key post.

Though the CM announced to allocate funds for development projects, the works haven’t started, and particularly with the pandemic, they’ve taken a backseat.

Now the Hyderabad Karnataka Janapara Sangharsh Samiti are demanding a separate statehood as political parties have failed to develop the region amid special status. “The region would see development only if it gets statehood,” the group members said.

Also read: Karnataka bypolls: No love lost between JDS and Congress

Besides, the long-standing demand of north Karnataka to shift some government offices to Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, aimed at addressing the regional imbalance, are yet to be fulfilled. In 2018, the Congress-JDS coalition government gave in-principle approval to shift some government departments, boards and commissions to North Karnataka. The CM, however, held a meeting last month and directed officials to come up with a plan by Dember.

Also, the delay in disbursing flood relief and crop loss compensation to farmers for the current year and the previous year has angered the people. Many are yet to receive compensation announced last year even as they live makeshift tents and houses.

The government in July passed an order freezing all appointments until early 2021. Hundreds of candidates, who are selected for government jobs have been made to wait for appointment letters. While some of them, like teachers and doctors, who quit their private jobs for the government posts, took to streets to demand their rights. According to the Karnataka Pre-University Lecturers Association, nearly 1,200 posts are vacant for the post of college lecturers across the state.

Also read: Karnataka CM will be changed after Bihar poll results: Siddaramaiah

In addition, the government recently halted the popular Vidyagama education programme that benefitted students from the poor background who had no digital connect citing COVID reasons, it also stopped ‘Shaadi Bhagya’ the welfare scheme started by the Congress government for Muslim brides citing lack of funds and it is likely to shelve the Indira Canteens, developed on the lines of Amma canteens to help the poor.

“Despite repeated insistence from the Aam Aadmi Party to provide free meals to the poor and migrant workers during the lockdown, there was no action by the BJP state government. The BJP government is neglecting 174 canteens and 15 mobile canteens across Bengaluru by not even giving the basic facilities,”  Jagdish V Sadam, AAP’s media head said in a statement.

For a chief minister who built the party from scratch and garnered considerable support from the North Karnataka region, the current impasse is hindering his government’s functioning. Besides, the corruption allegations against his family and failure of the government to effectively contain the spread of COVID in the initial days, are dragging the CM down.

Yediyurappa, who had dubbed H.D. Kumaraswamy as a ‘non-serious’ and directionless chief minister, is seen to be falling in the same trap. Yediyurappa’s own ministers and party workers are dragging him down with the government ignoring the development works.

Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Vijayapura (north Karnataka)MLA, recently courted controversy after he remarked that Yediyurappa will not remain the CM for long.

Speaking to The Federal, Congress leader and KPCC working president Eshwar Khandrem said the BJP government gave ‘Kalyana Karnataka’ a step-motherly treatment. “Despite the special status given, the government is not recruiting people from the region and not allocating required funds for the development projects,” Khandre said. He added that the government was clueless on key decisions, from reopening of schools and colleges to improving the health infrastructure.

“While they had an opportunity to serve the people,  the government seems to be absent on the work front. Welfare schemes and funds are not reaching people and they are shutting one scheme after another amid the pandemic increasing the need for welfare schemes,” he added.