An apparent lack of coordination between the coalition partners — Janata Dal (Secular) and Congress — came to the fore on the floor of the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
When the Opposition BJP raised the issue of people from below the poverty line (BPL) families not getting medical aid in an emergency owing to lack of clear directions, Health and Family Welfare Minister Shivananda Patil and Cooperation Minister Bandeppa Kashempur differed on the floor of the House.
While the former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar raised the issue of Yashasvini scheme beneficiaries left in the lurch owing to migration in the health coverage scheme, he found support from his party members, including the former Minister K.S. Eshwarappa, who also gave examples of BPL card holders being turned away by hospitals, refusing to acknowledge the cards. The BJP said a large number of poor families have been left in the lurch despite Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy announcing extension of validity of the cards by three more months. “No instruction from the government has gone to hospitals in this regard,” Mr. Shettar said.
Even as Mr. Patil was defending the new scheme and sought time during the transition phase, Mr. Kashempur joined the Opposition benches and said he too had been receiving complaints. “There are problems and confusions over the issue currently,” he said, drawing the ire of Mr. Patil. Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara intervened and said that the issue would be sorted out soon.
In another instance, delay in appointing the chief whip for the governing combine led to many on the treasury benches almost being denied an opportunity to speak on the motion to thank the Governor’s address to joint session. When JD(S) MLA from Arsikere K.M. Shivalinge Gowda sought Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar’s permission to speak, the Speaker said it was not his mistake. “Chief whip should have given me the list of speakers. You have to talk to him and not to me.”
Dr. Parameshwara acknowledged that there was a delay in the appointment of the chief whip. “From tomorrow, everything will be in order,” he said.
The Speaker later allowed members from the governing parties to speak.
Incidentally, Congress MLA for Chikkodi Ganesh Hukkeri was appointed as the chief whip on Wednesday.