Bengaluru: Rather than take umbrage, the state government seems to have decided to take the recent critical comments of veteran party leaders, SM Krishna and B Janardhan Poojary, on its performance as “constructive criticism.”
While Mr Krishna had drawn attention to the government’s selective asphalting of roads in the city for the global investors’ meet and accused it of making mere cosmetic changes to Bengaluru’s sagging infrastructure, Mr Poojary had made his displeasure clear over “inefficient” and “non-performing” ministers continuing in the Cabinet, and their disrespect for party workers.
He had warned that unless the Congress pulled up its socks it could be looking at a dismal performance in the next election to the state assembly.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has responded to the former KPCC president ,saying he would keep his advice in mind during the next Cabinet reshuffle and now food and civil supplies minister, Dinesh Gundu Rao seems willing to take Mr Krishna’s comments in the right spirit as well.
Promising more development for the city in coming months, Mr Gundu Rao noted that the CM had earmarked crores of rupees for Bengaluru. While other Chief Ministers had retained the Bengaluru development portfolio, Mr Siddaramaiah had appointed a minister exclusively for the city, which was a positive move, he pointed out, speaking to the DC.
As for Mr Poojary’s comments he said it was common for any government to have a mix of efficient and less performing ministers in the Cabinet. The senior leader’s statement had been taken as constructive criticism as the Chief Minister was aware of the situation himself and would do something about it at the right time.
But a senior Congress legislator grumbled that Mr Siddaramaiah did not know what his ministers were upto despite the media highlighting their rare visits to Vidhana Soudha and Vikasa Soudha.
“Most of them have not toured all the districts of the state over the last three years. People are no fools as they are watching everything closely and will give their verdict at the right time,” he warned.
