Bengaluru: Janata Dal (S) supremo and former prime minister, H.D. Deve Gowda might not have made his presence publicly felt when it came to the selection of ministers for the JD(S)-Congress coalition government but he is very much active behind-the-scenes, playing a dominant role in the selection of office staff of the newly appointed JD (S) ministers.
In the coalition set-up, the JD (S) got 12 cabinet berths of the total 34 ministerial posts including the CM post and the Congress, 22. Besides Chief Minister, H.D. Kumaraswamy and his brother H.D. Revanna, the JD(S) has nine ministers in the coalition government and has kept one slot vacant.
A few Karnataka Administrative Service(KAS) officers and assistants, ostensibly from the Vokkaliga community to which the former PM belongs, are making a beeline for Mr Deve Gowda’s residence in Padmanabhanagar to get his nod and secure much sought after postings with the JD (S) ministers. Such officers usually play a pivotal role in administrative matters and often serve as a via media between people keen on solving problems or getting things done, and the minister himself.
One of the reasons why Mr Gowda reportedly got involved in the selection of office staff is that many of the JD (S) ministers are new to administration and do not know the nuances of governance. Things have also been complicated by the fact that the JD(S) has bene out of power for more than a decade.
"So, if the staff attached to the minister are qualified and dedicated, the possibility of the ministers making mistakes or blunders can be avoided. So, he(Mr Deve Gowda) is reportedly checking the antecedents of some of the officers, those shortlisted by him might be taken on board by the ministers," the sources added.
