CMC commissioner takes charge surrounded by police

H V Gururaj took charge as the commissioner of Robertsonpet CMC on Thursday amidst heavy police security.

Gururaj, who had been joint director of the Cooperative Department, was deputed to the Urban Development Department on a temporary, administrative basis.

The Department has transferred the current commissioner Balachandra as project director of Chikkaballapur deputy commissioner’s district urban development cell. The CMC members had, in a recent meeting, decided not to transfer Balachandra for any reason.
The transfer, however, followed the personal clash between the JD(S)-led CMC and Kolar Gold Fields legislator Y Sampangi, who is a member of the BJP. Sources said that the legislator had urged the Karnataka government to transfer Balachandra.

In the backdrop of such animosity and rumours that attempts were being made to prevent the new commissioner from taking charge, the CMC premises was provided heavy police security on Thursday afternoon.

Gururaj took his oath from the assistant executive engineer Sridhar in the presence of tahsildar Mangala and special tahsildar Jayamadhava. But, since the commissioner’s office was locked on Thursday, he had to use a different cabin for the day.

“The CMC will work to treat citizens without bias or disparity and to complete their work as soon as possible. Also, efforts will be taken to improve the facilities in the City,” said the new Commissioner.

Protests today

Members of various organisations have decided to stage a protest on Friday in the City against the transfer of Balachandra.

“The former commissioner has become a victim of a political tussle. He had won the confidence and appreciation of the citizens, elected representatives and members of the Municipality during the last one year of his tenure at Robertsonpet,” said the protesters.
They also demanded that Balachandra be reinstalled as the Commissioner of the Municipality.

Most members of the CMC till participate in the protest, said JD(S) members of the Municipality.