The chairmen of the palike shortened working hours for staff, so that they could assemble at the hotel where the new CM was elected yesterday and show their support
The chairmen of the palike shortened working hours for staff, so that they could assemble at the hotel where the new CM was elected yesterday and show their supportThe political stalemate in the state ensured that important standing committee meetings were cancelled, as the chairmen of the BBMP shortened working hours for everyone so that they could assemble with their respective leaders at Capitol Hotel, where the new chief minister was elected.u00a0The standing committee chairmen were supposed to draft reports pertaining to development and the current budget of the city corporation.
Number game: Supporters of D V Sadananda Gowda gathered outside
the hotel where he was elected as the new Chief Minister of the state.
Pic/Ramesh HSAccording to sources, the members and chairmen have been missing from their seats for several days since the political drama began and tasks are suffering as a result. Most importantly, by the way things are going, the corporation is likely to loose another precious month without any indication of progress on the delayed budget.
AWOL?The only person who was out on inspection was Geethasashi Kumar, chairman standing committee on health, while others such as A L Shivkumar, standing committee accounts, was seen with Sadananda Gowda before the ballot voting.
The same was with Mahesh Babu who is social welfare committee chairman. The important one missing from the scene was Manjunath Raju, who is committee chairman of tax and finance. Ramesh Raju, chairman for education and sports committee, who was tracking the development said, "You know how difficult the situation is. We thought of asking for a Rs 2,000 crore grant from B S Yeddyurappa, but he was has left office. Now we will ask the new CM, but it will take time and that's why I could not come to office."
Opposition eruptsThe opposition leaders, who were waiting for such an opportunity, took on the ruling members and condemned the standing committee for having lost their vision to revamp the city corporation. "I am a member of health standing committee and we were on inspection for an hour and I later addressed my ward about safety measure for the monsoon. But the trend as a whole in the state will change and the BJP will be reduced to a minority. Instead of doing their job, they are on the streets trying to save their chairs. What was worse still, is that the standing committee cut shot duty hours for everyone," said Congress corporator S Nataraj representing the Gandhi Nagar ward.
JD(S) councilor R Prakash said, "People are struggling without basic amenities and instead of discharging their duties, these members are lining up at a hotel to show strength. This is not the only day they have not been in their seats as this has been going on for several days now."
