Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jan 5: Chief minister B S Yediyurappa, began to hold division-wise meetings of MLAs to listen to their grievances and seek their suggestions as promised by him earlier, on Monday January 4. On the first day itself, most of the MLAs were seen turning their ire against the ministers who they said mostly overlooked them and remained non-communicative.

"Ministers continue to neglect the legislators. There are no grants and development works have almost come to standstill in our constituencies. Our words have no value in the government offices. The ministers project themselves as if they are too busy with work and they are the only ones who work. We too want to become ministers, give us this opportunity," were some of the complaints Yediyurappa came across from the batches on the first day of the meetings. It was clear that most of the MLAs had grouses against the style of functioning of ministers.

Legislators said that in their home constituencies, they face embarrassment day in and day out. "Since the day the government was formed, we have been promising that grants are on the way but now we are fed up. How can we do any development if the situation continues like this? How can we face the next election successfully?” many of them wanted to know.

Some came up with the suggestion that the chief minister should hold such meetings of MLAs at least once in three months.

MLAs also sought posting of officials who value their opinions and instructions in their districts. Yediyurappa said that some MLAs want particular officers in some districts, while some others choose someone else. He asked the MLAs to sit together and prepare a list so that a decision can be taken. There were complaints about projecting minister, Sriramulu, as if he had failed in health department. Many said that they do not get intimation about district visits of ministers and they are not even invited to progress review meetings.