Stand-off over Bengaluru Development portfolio likely to be discussed in Delhi
The discontentment of Krishna Byre Gowda over being given a truncated Bengaluru Development portfolio — without the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) and the Bengaluru Metropolitan
The discontentment of Krishna Byre Gowda over being given a truncated Bengaluru Development portfolio — without the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) and the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA), which are held by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar — seems to have reached the doors of the Congress Central leadership. The stand-off comes at a crucial time when the monsoon has set in over the State. There are also no elected councillors in Bengaluru since elections to five corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) are yet to be held. Shivakumar will be in Delhi on Wednesday to meet senior party leaders including Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. Mr. Gowda, who is yet to take charge of the portfolio, is also in Delhi.
Sources close to Mr. Gowda said that the Minister had gone to Delhi along with some legislators, who are seeking Cabinet berths. It is learnt that he has informed both the Chief Minister and Congress general secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala that he will not take charge of the portfolio unless the issue is resolved, and that he is ready to take any other portfolio. The Chief Minister is expected to explain to the leaders on Wednesday why he is keen to keep the BDA and the BMRDA. Sources close to him said: “The BDA and the BMRDA have been kept by the Chief Minister since he has worked on projects that are under the two agencies.
By the time the new Minister will be able to understand its intricacies, the term would be coming to an end and projects could be derailed.” The Chief Minister will be in Delhi to attend the Niti Ayog meeting on Thursday, and has also invited IAS officers for a dinner meeting. Among the projects that were taken up when Mr. Shivakumar held the Bengaluru Development portfolio include the ambitious tunnel projects, the Peripheral Ring Road and the Bidadi integrated township projects. Coordination required Meanwhile, sources close to Mr. Gowda arguing for an integrated portfolio pointed out that effective coordination between multiple agencies is required for Bengaluru’s development and accountability over agencies becomes a challenge. “What happens if major issues arise on the Outer Ring Road that is under BDA?
Since lakes come under the BDA, who can be held responsible if there is flooding? Who will be held responsible if projects executed by the BDA face delays see escalation of cost?” asked a source close to him. Sources said that the portfolio was allocated to Mr. Gowda after the Central leadership intervened. “The fear is that without full responsibility, he would be made accountable. There will be multiple power centres too, which would make execution of work difficult. He has left the decision to the Central leadership.”
The BriefWire