Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Nov 13: There has been a belief in the state that those who handle muzrai department get defeated in the next election. The belief is more deep-rooted in the district, where people like Amaranath Shetty and Nagaraj Shetty tasted electoral debacles immediately after handling this department.

Strangely, this department has changed hands five times since the BJP came to power in the state. Krishnaiah Shetty, who was in charge of this department for over a year, had been quite active in organizing religious programmes on behalf of the government, getting holy water of River Ganga to the temples on the occasion of Shivaratri, etc. However, he was forced to resign following allegations of his involvement with a scam in the sale of land belonging to the state housing board, last year. The department was then vested with Somanna. After Somanna failed to get elected, the department was given to Dr V S Acharya. During the reorganization of the ministry on September 22, Krishna Palemar was given additional charge of this department. The department was given back to Acharya on Friday.

Palemar gets credit for banning use of plastic in temples, banning of pompous welcome to VIPs during their visits to temples, doing away with buffet system food distribution system in temples, etc, during a short period of less than two months. He also had released good grants to temples and had proposed to increase the pay of the priests. Palemar, who has now got fisheries department, has been divested of the muzrai department. Immediately after being given this department, Palemar had stated that he will prove the above belief wrong, by getting re-elected.

There are some who believe that this department changes hands often like hot potato because of the reluctance of the ministers to handle it. It is to be seen as to whether Acharya will continue holding this department during his remaining term, and whether his future will be affected on this account.