At the end of the first half of the coalition State government, it's time to take stock of the ministers and their performance in their respective spheres of administration.
In a tenure marked more by power politics among the two partners, than constructive attempts at better governance, the ministers have delivered a mixed performance.
While there has been the stray burst of inspired administration, some ministers have also been found awfully short of basic standards. Deccan Herald tries a lowdown on the league of 34.
H D Kumaraswamy (Chief Minister, Urban Development)
The village stays, Janata Darshan, ban on arrack and lottery and the farm loan waiver brought him accolades. However, for him, it has also been a tenure marked by scandals and snubs, especially at the hands of BJP’s Bellary lobby.
B S Yediyurappa (Deputy Chief Minister, Finance)
Made girls’ journey to school easy. The Bhagyalakshmi scheme got him the raves as well. Over the past three or four months, however, he has been widely seen as tense and chasing the elusive CM’s chair.
M P Prakash (Home, Law, Parliamentary Affairs)
The release of the STF package has been a major achievement. Also managed to fend off opposition over mandatory helmets and implemented the rule.
K S Eshwarappa (Major and Medium Irrigation, Water Resources)
The high point has been the Cabinet nod for the Upper Bhadra project.
Jagadish Shettar (Revenue)
Was in the dock over government land auctions which the critics called an exercise to make rich real estate sharks richer.
H D Revanna (Power, PWD)
Has maintained the stature of the real “power centre” in the Cabinet, in the true sense of the expression.
C Chennigappa (Forest, Ecology, Environment)
Was caught in the mining mess and has, by and large, remained ineffective.
D H Shankaramurthy (Higher Education)
Did a flip-flop on the Tipu Sultan issue; had a busy time with CET and PGCET.
N Cheluvarayaswamy (Transport)
Went on a bus-purchase spree, largely unmindful of Bangalore’s narrow roads.
Ramachandra Gowda (Planning and Statistics, Lottery, Small Savings, Science and Technology)
Brush up your memory, he was Minister for Science and Technology.
D T Jayakumar (Housing)
Specialised in loose talk; branded the DyCM, no less, as inefficient.
C M Udasi (Rural Development, Panchayati Raj)
Initiated the Panchayati Raj Bill, attracting the wrath of Panchayat bodies.
Basavaraj Horatti (Primary and Secondary Education)
Stood firm on Kannada in primary schools, apart from being the Cabinet’s official spokesman with the media.
V S Acharya (Medical Education)
Has put six new medical colleges in place.
Iqbal Ansari (Labour, Minority Welfare, Haj)
The row over night shifts brought him in focus.
R Ashok (Health and Family Welfare)
Dogs, Dengue and Chikungunya dogged him; monitored the legislators’ ‘health’ by conducting camps.
Sharanabasappa Darshanapur (Agricultural Marketing)
So busy that he even forgot to declare his assets before the Lokayukta.
Govind Karjol (Food and Civil Supplies)
Still busy preparing BPL cards; often had breakfast with Deve Gowda.
Alkod Hanumanthappa (Sports and Youth Affairs)
He did a no-show to file assets and liabilities as well; Not sportive enough.
Katta Subramanya Naidu (Industries)
Has been a good link between JD(S) and BJP; despite criticism, has been lenient with land developers.
Bandeppa Kashampur (Agriculture)
Failed to meet the set target in agricultural growth.
B Sriramulu (Tourism, Infrastructure)
Had too little time, so did not attend even one Cabinet meeting. Always carried the resignation letter with him;
finally, he showed it too.
Balachandra Jarkiholi (Social Welfare)
The Million Dollar question: whose welfare?
B Nagaraj Shetty (Fisheries, Muzrai)
Considered Narendra Modi as role model; Tried to market Mangalore fish at the global level, though he never tasted it.
H K Kumaraswamy (Women and Child Welfare)
Implemented the Bhagyalakshmi scheme, at last.
S A Ravindranath (Sugar)
The Sugar Minister cut a ‘soury’ figure for sugarcane growers.
H S Mahadevaprasad (Kannada and Culture)
Pulled curtains down on Janapada Jatre.
G T Deve Gowda (Co-operation)
Remained ‘non-cooperative’ with his former leader Siddaramaiah.
Alangur Srinivas (Municipal Administration)
Getting the Minister’s chair was hard enough; probably why he rested later.
Revu Naik Belamagi (Animal Husbandry)
Becoming the Minister itself has been a dream-come-true. Do we need to say more?
Sogadu Shivanna (Sericulture)
Bad that this doesn’t have a Not Applicable option.
Shashikant Akkappa Naik (Horticulture)
Set Belgaum ready for the World Kannada Summit which, of course, did not take place.
Appu Pattanashetty (Textiles)
For the uninitiated, yes, he has also been a minister.
COALITION REPORT CARD HIGHS
* Chief Minister’s village stays, Janata Darshan
* Ban on lottery, liquor
* Partial waiver of farmers’ loan
* Farmers’ loan at 4 per cent
interest
* Bhagyalakshmi scheme
* Bicycles for High School
students
* More power to the Lokayukta
* Cabinet approval for Upper Bhadra project
* Historic legislature session in Belgaum
* Recovery of government land in Bangalore Urban district
* Six new government medical colleges
*182 first grade colleges; 500 new PU colleges
*Large-scale recruitment of
teachers, lecturers
*Launch of PURA
* Increased honorarium for
freedom fighters, from Rs 1,500
to Rs 3,000
*Commencement of work on Bangalore Metro
*Bangalore made Bruhat
Bangalore
LOWS * No respite for choked Bangalore roads
* Failure in appointing chiefs of boards, corporations
*Farmers’ suicides
* No distribution of ration cards
* Bababudangiri controversy
* Naxal menace
* Failure to rein in Bellary’s mining lobby
* Communal riots in Dakshina Kannada
* The World Kannada meet
no-show
*Failed to form new districts out of Belgaum and Gulbarga
