Congress MLA D K Shivakumar, BJP minister B N Bacche Gowda and JD(S) MP Cheluvarayaswamy participated in a meeting held at KIMS, Banashankari, where the issue of a change of guard was discussed for nearly four hours.

The Board with its 34 members, which was unable to settle the discord, requested the Vokkaliga politicians to intervene and resolve the matter. The present president of KIMS Kenchappa Gowda is in the eye of a storm, as there are allegations of him having misused his position.

There are allegations that Gowda has been the mastermind behind the recent medical college admission racket, where merit seats were sold to aspiring doctors as management quota seats.

The directors are also miffed that Gowda has appointed only his men to the 11 committees of KIMS including medical education, engineering and pharmacy.

Exceeded tenure

Another reason for the discontent is the fact that Gowda, who has exceeded his 20-month tenure, continues to hold charge even after 40 months.

The leaders, who heard out the directors and office-bearers, have bought some time to find a solution to the issue. Both Cheluvarayaswamy and Bacche Gowda said they would be apprising the other Vokkaliga State leaders like H D Deve Gowda, H D Kumaraswamy, S M Krishna, R Ashoka and D B Chandre Gowda apart from bringing the matter to the notice of the Vokkaliga seer Balagangadharanatha Swami.

The leaders will hold the second round of talks with the Board after this.