BENGALURU: The Opposition BJP and JDS legislators on Wednesday petitioned Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, seeking his intervention in dissolving the state, district, and taluk-level committees headed by Congress workers and leaders set up to oversee the implementation of the Congress government’s five guarantee schemes, calling them “unconstitutional”.
Pandemonium in the Assembly that began on Tuesday over the issue continued on Wednesday with BJP and JDS legislators protesting near Kengal Hanumanthaiah Statue in Vidhana Soudha before the commencement of the session. As soon as the proceedings began, BJP and JDS MLAs stormed into the well of the House following which Speaker UT Khader adjourned the House, suggesting both the Ruling and Opposition members to resolve the issue.
However, BJP and JDS legislators led by LoP in Assembly R Ashoka, LoP in Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, state BJP president BY Vijayendra, and JDS LP leaders C B Suresh Babu and S L Bojegowda took out a padayatra to Raj Bhavan, where they submitted a memorandum to Governor Gehlot seeking his intervention to immediately dissolve the guarantee implementation committees.
“The salaries to the implementation committees’ chairpersons and members across the state in 31 districts culminates in a total monthly expenditure of approximately Rs 2.47 crore, translating to an annual financial commitment nearing Rs 30 crore,” the memorandum read.
They urged that the politically motivated committees should be prevented from the further misuse of public funds, ensure proper utilization of public resources, and redirect funds allocated to the committees toward essential public services and welfare schemes.
They appealed to the Governor to restore democratic oversight, reinstate elected representatives’ roles in local government programme implementation, and prevent arbitrary political appointments.
“It is also a violation of Article 164(1A) that explicitly limits ministerial appointments to 15% of the legislative assembly’s strength, capping Karnataka’s Council of Ministers at 34. However, the guarantee implementation committee framework effectively confers ministerial privileges, including salaries, allowances, vehicles, residences, and staff, on at least 37 individuals, constituting a parallel ministerial structure,” the petition added.
The appointment process bypasses legislative scrutiny, effectively diluting accountability mechanisms and infringing upon principles of separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution, the Opposition members explained.
Business lost
Following the pandemonium over the issue, the Assembly lost one-and-a-half days of proceedings, including the debate on the Governor’s speech and budget.