Delay in appointment of district ministers creates confusion

Hubballi: The delay in the appointment of district-in-charge ministers has left a void in the local administrative set-up. Since chief minister Basavaraj Bommai had appointed ministers to tackle the Covid-19 crisis in specific districts, and others were assigned the task of hoisting the tricolour on August 15, it is being assumed that they shall continue as district in-charge ministers. However, there is growing demand among the public and BJP workers to name local legislators district in-charge ministers.
President of Belgaum District Kannada Organisations’ Action Committee Ashok Chandargi pointed out that it was former CM Veerendra Patil who had started the practice of appointing district in-charge ministers in 1989. “Patil appointed legislators from other districts to ensure that administration was carried out in a bipartisan manner. These appointments were aimed at bridging the gap between the requirements of the district, and the expectations from the government. The district in-charge minister has to chair the review meeting for the Karnataka Development Programme, among others. The absence of a district in-charge minister will affect the administration, should it last longer. Since the CM is facing trouble within the party, it is possible that he may defer to the BJP central leadership on the issue,” Chandargi said.
An official in the Haveri district administration admitted to confusion prevailing in the ranks since they were uncertain as to whether they were to approach CM Bommai, who is also from Haveri, or district in-charge minister BC Patil.
Activist Vikas Soppin pointed out that many of the ministers were yet to take the reins of the departments they had been allotted. “The executive is functioning by itself, ignorant of people’s expectations. The absence of a district in-charge minister will stall infrastructure development. It is an indication that the government is not serious about administration,” he said.
Making a strong case for appointing a local legislator to the post, Soppin said, “If a legislator from another district is appointed, he or she will not be able to understand the nitty-gritty of the local issues, and could be misguided by the officials. Moreover, it could burden the exchequer since the minister may have to travel to attend meetings and other key events.”