The Lokayukta post, which has been lying vacant for the last five months after the former Lokayukta Justice Shivaraj Patil stepped down on September 19, 2011, will reportedly be filled up only after the results of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections on March 6, and most likely on the recommendation of the BJP High Command, said official sources.

The reason for the delay is being attributed to the growing differences between Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and the former chief minister B.S. Yedyurappa and the lack of consensus on the candidate for the State ombudsman’s post between the two. It is learnt that the chief minister has written to the members of the committee, comprising the Chief Justice, Assembly Speaker, Legislative Council Chairman and leaders of the Opposition in both Houses to recommend names of eligible candidates for the Lokayukta.

But he has not recommended any names himself in violation of Section 3 of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, which states that a person to be appointed as the Lokayukta shall be “appointed on the advice tendered by the Chief Minister in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka, the Chairman, Karnataka Legislative Council, the Speaker, Karnataka Legislative Assembly, the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council and the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly”.

“The CM has not recommended anyone. He has asked the members to come out with some names. The list has to be sent back to the CM by March 3. The name, which has the backing of the majority, will get appointed as the Lokayukta. The process of appointment may, however, get delayed if the rift between Mr. Yedyurappa and Mr. Gowda is not sorted out,” the source added.