Bengaluru: Janata Dal (Secular) MLCs are likely to get a raw deal in the upcoming appointments to various state-run boards and corporations since there is pressure on party bosses to accommodate disgruntled MLAs of the party in these posts.
Highly placed sources told Deccan Chronicle that as per the agreement between the Congress and JD(S), posts in 20 boards and corporations would go to the Congress and the remaining 10 to the JD(S). While the Congress is in the process of preparing the list of legislators to be appointed as chairmen, the JD(S) is a fix as those MLAs who could not make it to the Cabinet, are demanding that they be accommodated.
Sources said JD(S) National Secretary General Danish Ali had a detailed discussion with AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, Coordination Committee chairman Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwar recently. It was decided to prepare the list of legislators to be appointed as chairmen of boards/corporations. The JD(S) is eyeing the BDA, BESCOM, BWSSB, Minority Development, Dr B.R. Ambedkar Development Corporation and D. Devaraj Urs Development Corporation which the Congress too wants. Sources said the Congress leaders are citing their strength in the House-79 MLAs-to demand these posts.
Sources admitted that with the JD(S) MLCs being denied berths in the first round of cabinet expansion, there is seething anger among them. Even Mr Gowda had reportedly ignored the MLCs by not inviting them for the JD(S) Legislature Party meeting held at his Padmanabha Nagar residence. Realising that the MLCs were upset, Mr Ali had requested Mr Gowda to convince his party MLCs about the circumstances in which the MLCs were not being accommodated in boards/corporations.
Mr K.T. Srikantegowda, Mr Maritibbegowda, Mr Sandesh Nagaraj and Mr Saravana are a few among the strong contenders for chairmen posts in boards/corporations.
Sources also said that the party had decided to reduce the burden on Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy by making another senior leader party state president which would be done in the coming months depending upon the situation. Mr Gowda wants his son to work freely and does not want to burden him with the additional responsibility of state unit president.
