Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Feb 18: The JD(S) leaders, who were heaving a sigh of relief after the threat of the collapse the coalition government faced had blown over, are now facing another challenge. It is learnt that the aspirants, who have been waiting in the wings since long, are now pitching for giving them vacant posts in the state ministry, and chairmanships of boards and corporations. They are worried over the decision of the leadership not to absorb any of the MLAs to these posts before the Lok Sabha election.

It is said that JD(S) national president, H D Deve Gowda, has decided not to fill two vacant ministerial berths for the time being and also against posting anyone to vacant seats in corporations and boards. This decision has given rise to disgruntlement among the legislators.

The party leadership has suspended all appointment processes after nominating former KAS officer, Tippeswamy, to the legislative council. The party had the option to fill the vacant positions but it adopted the policy of waiting and watching. Now that Lok Sabha election and related code of conduct are approaching, the leaders seem to feel that giving positions of power to legislators at this juncture will not be beneficial to them.

Nearly ten legislators and ten other leaders have been hoping to be made chairpersons of corporations and boards. Out of the two vacant ministerial positions, it was said that one would be given to minorities and the other to scheduled caste. MLC, B M Farooq, is hoping to become a minister, and MLAs, Dr Annadani and H K Kumaraswamy, are vying for the other vacant position which the party plans to offer to scheduled castes/tribes.

JD(S) leaders are aware that veteran leader, Basavaraj Horatti, who was deprived of the post of the chairman of legislative council, is desirous of becoming a minister. They seem to be thinking in terms of keeping the two ministerial vacancies unfilled for now as filling them will create heartburn in some others.

State JD(S) president H Vishwanath, said that party leaders will discuss the matter of Lok Sabha election with Congress high command. He added that because of the election, no meeting was held of late to discuss other issues. He clarified that the appointments would be done at a suitable time.