BANGALORE: Ten days after he resigned as the minister for medical education under controversial circumstances pertaining to recruitment of nonteaching staff in Hassan and Mysore medical colleges, Ramachandra Gowda was appointed as the deputy chairman of the state planning board on Wednesday."I do not have likes and dislikes. I take things as they come and in my stride. I neither demanded ministership nor hesitated to resign. Similarly, this post too has come on its own and I will discharge my duties and responsibilities with utmost diligence," Gowda said, while speaking to Express after taking charge at Vikasa Soudha office.
A large number of party leaders, workers and admirers thronged his new office and greeted him.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa called Gowda for breakfast in his residence along with Shanta Kumar, the former chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, who is incharge of BJP affairs of Karnataka. Shanta Kumar was in city to take part in the swearingin ceremony of six new ministers at Raj Bhavan.
Earlier to Gowda, the post of deputy chairman of planning board was held by another senior BJP leader D H Shankaramurthy, who went on to become the chairman of the legislative council. The post is of cabinet rank status and Gowda is expected to be made a permanent invitee to all the cabinet meetings.