Bengaluru: In a snub to former chief minister Siddaramaiah, Higher Education Minister G.T. Devegowda was emphatic on Monday that the Syndicate and Academic Council members of 18 universities appointed by the last government would be replaced. While Mr Siddaramaiah has reportedly shot off a letter to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy asking him to let the members appointed to the governing bodies of these universities by his government continue in office until the end of their terms, the minister was categorical about replacing them.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Devegowda said that any new government that came to power had the prerogative to cancel all nominations made by the last and he saw no reason not to do so. The coalition partners of the present government would discuss and take a final decision in the matter, he added. Defending his strong criticism of PDOs at the function he had organised to thanks the voters of Chamundeshwari constituency for electing him, he said the officials were out of hand and seemed to believe that Mr Siddaramaiah could still come to their rescue.
“I pulled them up to make sure that they start working from now onwards. Siddaramaiah and I started our political journey at the same time. I know what he is and why he is going to prevent me from becoming in-charge minister of Mysuru. My party leaders will appoint district in-charge ministers very soon,” he declared.
Earlier at an event organised by members of a local Brahmin association to felicitate him, Mr Gowda said the state government had announced a Brahmins Development Authority and released Rs 25 crore to help the poor in the community. He also recalled that the Chief Minister had announced its decision to celebrate Sri Shankara Jayanthi in a bigger way in association with the Department of Kannada and Culture.
