BJP: Why are all panel chiefs from Congress?

Bengaluru: Can ministers head House committee probes? Never, according to leaders of the state BJP, who accused the state government of setting a wrong precedent through appointment of energy minister D.K. Shivakumar and law minister T.B. Jayachandra as chairmen of House committees to probe alleged irregularities in purchase of power and allegations of wrong doing during implementation of Bengaluru-Mysore infrastructure corridor (BMIC) project by NICE respectively.

Speaking to media persons on Wednesday, president of the state BJP, Pralhad Joshi, and leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, Jagadish Shettar, said: “We have not seen it in any legislature or in parliament. A minister cannot head a House committee. Besides, a majority of members of both the committees are from Congress.

They should appoint one of the legislators as chairman. This is a wrong precedent. Who do they want to protect?” The leaders also charged that the government had failed to tackle the flood situation in the state effectively.