'BJP made ZPs, TPs futile institutions'

Addressing party workers here on Sunday, Shankar said that the concept of ‘gram swarajya’ has been damaged by the BJP government. “The Congress had given powers to local bodies so that infrastructure can be developed independently. However, the BJP government has snatched away the powers of the zilla panchayats and taluk panchayats,” he charged.

It was the Congress, which mooted the idea of providing reservation for women in local bodies. The sanctions to gram panchayats has been increased to Rs five lakh and 29 departments were shifted to the zilla panchayat during the Congress regime, he added.
There are 34 ministers in the State cabinet. However, it is unfortunate that none of the five MLAs in the district have got a minister’s berth, he lamented.

“Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has no confidence about the capability of MLAs of the district,” he added. “Power is important for the MLA of Sringeri constituency and he never bothered about the people. He had withdrawn his resignation to the post of Chief Whip’s post just to retain power,” said Congress leader Shankar .