Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Jul 25: Immediate-past Speaker of the state assembly, K B Koliwad, is known to court controversies. During the period he was in office, he had come to be known for controversial decisions. Recently, by launching tirade against Siddaramaiah and accusing him for several problems including his own defeat in the election, Koliwad had invited ire of the party and got notice warning of disciplinary action. Now, another controversy has surrounded him.
In the past, some assembly Speakers had shifted the furniture used in the bungalows allotted to them by the government by paying their cost to the government. But Koliwad not only took away furniture provided to him in his government bungalow but also the luxury sofas provided as part of the assembly secretariat, it is gathered. In doing so, he did not seek prior permission, neither did he reimburse their cost in advance.
After some media carried stories about shifting of these furniture items to his residence at Gangamma Circle, Jalahalli in the city on Tuesday, he wrote to the assembly secretariat, offering to reimburse the cost of these furniture items. But the basic dispute raised now is shifting of furniture belonging to the secretariat in contravention of rules. Two high cost luxury cots with MDF board storage facility and a smaller cot had been provided to his residence for being used for the secretariat. In addition to this, he carried home an Italian sofa set with buffalo leather, a massage chair and pigeon box, reports claimed.
As per rules, all the things given by the government have to be returned to the government at the end of term. Some have accused him of misusing his power and carrying home assets belonging to the secretariat. After the dispute arose, Koliwad offered to pay cost of the furniture and said that the massage chair and pigeon box were already returned.
State assembly secretary, S Murthy, said that when Koliwad was the speaker, he was provided with residential quarters at Crescent Road here. "Koliwad has now offered to pay cost of four furniture items which he retained out of the ones given for residential use. We will discuss with officials and determine the cost to be reimbursed by him. As we do not have space to maintain stock of the furniture, as per traditions, furniture is given to those who had used them, if they are interested to own them by recovering cost as per rules," he stated.