Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 30: If rumours making the rounds are to be believed,  former textiles minister, Baburao Chichansur, who had been dropped from the state ministry during the last reshuffle, is likely to be made chairman of Hyderabad-Karnataka Region Development Board (HKRDB).

Chinchansur, who represents Gurmitkal constituency in Kalauragi constituency, was disgruntled at having been dropped from the ministry. It is said that in dropping the minister, who had once been accused of cheque bounce and proceeded against legally by a lady when he was minister, Siddaramaiah had not buckled under pressure brought on him by veteran Congress leader, Mallikarjun Kharge, not to drop him. It is said that the chief minister has since relented under pressure from Kharge, and agreed to make Chinchansur chairman of HKRDB in an effort to assuage his feelings.

Although the state leadership had got clearance from the central leaders to appoint party activists including some MLAs to boards and corporations, it is said that the chief minister is delaying announcement of names as behind-the-scene activities are on for making some last minute changes. As per information, some MLAs, who were chosen to head certain boards and corporations, have refused the offers either because they feel it would be difficult to handle additional responsibility at a time when election is approaching, whereas some others are reluctant as they will have to work under ministers handling the department who are junior to them.

It is said that several MLAs including Malakareddy and P M Narendraswamy are not interested in the positions offered to them. Chinchansur however, will be happy to get a board that is one of the more important ones. Although some first time MLAs are interested in these positions and the chief minister is inclined to oblige them like Muniratna and r Sudhakar, it is said he could not give these posts to them as there are other aspirants who are either two-time MLAs or long time party activists.