Sadananda seeks to refurbish party image

Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Tuesday sent out a clear message to his ministerial colleagues and officials - don’t do anything that would embarrass the government.

During his department-wise review meetings, Gowda is said to have asked the ministers and department heads to ensure that mistakes committed in the past (by the Yeddyurappa-led government) do not recur. The chief minister is learnt to have said that requests for denotification of lands and transfers will not be entertained unless they are “really warranted.”

Gowda first reviewed the progress of five departments at his home office Krishna with the officials.

Later, he held one-on-one meeting with the ministers concerned at his official residence Anugraha.

He reviewed the functioning of Agriculture, Horticulture, Co-operation, Water Resources, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and Higher Education departments.

The meetings will continue for the next two days and in all as many as 24 departments will be covered.

The review will also provide an opportunity for the chief minister to familiarise himself with the functioning of various departments and important programmes and projects under implementation.

The chief minister, sources said, had allotted 45 minutes for each department. Gowda opened each meeting by making an initial remark for about five minutes outlining his vision and agenda for governance.

Expansion unlikely this week

The State Cabinet is unlikely to be expanded this week for lack of consensus on the names. Sources said Gowda had plans to expand the Cabinet to fill the existing seven vacancies by August 19. But the party leaders have not been able to finalise the candidates so far. The expansion is not likely to happen next week also because Governor H R Bhardwaj will be out of station.