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TOO MANY COOKS: Former chairperson Pramila Nesargi, last year's contender Bharathi Shetty, and Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa's close friend Shobha Karandlaje.</td></tr></tbody></table>Two years after commission chairperson quit, CM Yeddyurappa can't seem to settle on a successor, allegedly because the woman closest to him opposes anyone who she feels is gaining ground with him u00a0 Exactly two years after Pramila Nesargi resigned as the chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Women, the minister responsible for appointing a new head is helpless. "You please ask the chief minister what is the reason for the delay," said P M Narendra Swamy, minister for women and child development. "I have been reduced to a mere signatory authority." Nesargi resigned in December 2007, following the collapse of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party Janata Dal (Secular) coalition. However, since then the state government has not appointed anyone.u00a0 In May last year, when the BJP came to power and B S Yeddyurappa took over as chief minister, he is said to have wanted to appoint Shimoga member of Legislative Council Bharathi Shetty to the vacant post, but the woman he is closest to,u00a0 Shobha Karandlaje, allegedly was tooth-and-nail against the idea and he could not do anything about it. Friends turned foes Said a source who wished to remain anonymous, "Shobha and Bharathi were close friends. Bharati could become a member of the Legislative Council only because of her close proximity to Shobha. However, Shobha turned insecure last year, when Bharathi started drawing close to Yeddyurappa, who too seemed impressed by her. The women's friendship soured when Yeddyurappa short listed Bharathi's name to be chairman of the commission last year. To thwart Bharathi's chances, Shobha argued for a second term for Nesargi." Thanks to Shobha, Nesargi even announced that she would come back as the chairman and Narendra Swamy was about to sign the order. "But that did not happen, as Yeddyurappa was reluctant to appoint Nesargi and not bold enough to anger Shobha by making Bharathi the chairman," said the source. 'Shameful situation' As a consequence, Aswath D S, department secretary, is hearing the cases at the commission, much to the embarrassment of many women complainants. "It is shame that the government could not appoint a woman chairman and a man is hearing the cases," said Nesargi. She also blamed the kitchen politics for the delay. Bharathi Shetty said, "I never wanted the post. It's only rumour that the chief minister had chosen me for the post." Shobha Karandlaje declined to comment, saying that it was the prerogative of the minister for women and child development to do so.

Two years after commission chairperson quit, CM Yeddyurappa can't seem to settle on a successor, allegedly because the woman closest to him opposes anyone who she feels is gaining ground with him

Knotty politics keeps women's panel headless

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Knotty politics keeps women's panel headless

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