Erasing past, HD Kumaraswamy taps Infy Czar for city revamp

BENGALURU: Has Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy decided to put a new sweet spin on a soured relationship with IT czar N.R. Narayana Murthy with an invite to be part of the core advisory team for development of infrastructure in Bengaluru? Ironically, it was during a Congress-JD (S) coalition (2004-2006) that relations took a turn for the worse resulting in Chief Mentor of Infosys Mr Narayana Murthy’s exit from the post of Chairman of Bengaluru International Airport Ltd (BIAL). 

Reason: JD (S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda taunted Mr Murthy on several occasions over the delay in completion of the airport and for his vision for urban reforms in the state. Anguished by constant barbs of Mr Gowda, Mr Murthy sent his resignation to late CM N Dharam Singh, and did not heed requests to withdraw his resignation letter.  

Besides Mr Murthy, Mr Gowda targeted former CM S.M. Krishna for allotting several acres of land to Infosys, alleging that IT companies were turning into real estate ventures. Mr Murthy was appointed chairman of BIAL during Mr Krishna's tenure as CM.  

Interestingly on Friday, Mr Kumaraswamy called on Mr Murthy and sought his guidance in managing the city and its infrastructure. He said he wanted Mr Murthy to be part of a team headed by himself to address a plethora of issues including development of infrastructure and disposal of garbage. In response, Mr Murthy said it would be a pleasure to be part of such a team and he would give his suggestions in two months. Meanwhile, urban affairs expert Ashwin Mahesh said the Chief Minister or the state government could constitute an advisory body. This entity, however, should not become a substitute to a statutory body like Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC). On issues such as infrastructure and waste management, the MPC would be the right authority. Asked whether he would be part of the advisory body, he said: "I will be part of it if it is a MPC and not a non statutory body."