<p>With Chief Minister Siddaramaiah all set to form his ministry on Saturday, the State Secretariat, Vidhana Soudha was abuzz with activity on Friday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>While Siddaramaiah was huddled with his party leaders to finalise the list of ministers, the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) was busy with last minute checks and preparations at the Vidhana Soudha.<br /><br />From rectifying the defunct CCTVs in the Vidhana Soudha to upgrading computers in the rooms designated for the new ministers, officials were busy running from one end of the Secretariat to the other. <br /><br />According to DPAR officials, 33 rooms have been readied for the new ministers to move in. However, there has been no specific requests for rooms from the probables, said an official. Every time a new ministry is formed, there will be a scramble for the rooms, keeping Vaastu in mind. And, despite Vikasa Soudha being better equipped, ministers are reluctant to have their offices in the new building.<br /><br />Karnataka Development Authority (KDA) Chairman, Mukhyamantri Chandru and the Special Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister, Dr K V Raju, who were appointed by the previous BJP government, have decided to continue in their offices and not vacate them. The DPAR had already issued a circular that all officials including chairpersons of various authorities appointed by the previous regime should vacate the their rooms immediately.<br /><br />‘Previous officials out’<br /><br />Almost all officials as well as the Western Ghats Task Force Chairman, Ananth Hegde Ashisara and Quality Control Taskforce chief C S Vishwanath vacated the premises immediately. But, Dr Raju and Chandru, despite repeated appeals, have refused to vacate, said a DPAR official. <br /><br />Sources said these officials, however, have the privilege of continuing in their office if the new government decides to have them.<br /><br />Further, security around the Vidhana Soudha has been heightened to ensure that there will be no gatecrashers on Day One of the newly-appointed ministers entering the secretariat.<br /><br />There was a mad rush at the Vidhana Soudha on Friday after passes were made available to officials and elected representatives for the swearing-in ceremony of the new ministers to be held at the Raj Bhavan on Saturday. <br /><br />According to officials, as many as 2,000 invitations are being distributed. <br /><br />To overcome the rush, officials have limited one pass per MLA. Lower rung officials and party workers were trying to secure extra passes.<br /></p>
<p>With Chief Minister Siddaramaiah all set to form his ministry on Saturday, the State Secretariat, Vidhana Soudha was abuzz with activity on Friday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>While Siddaramaiah was huddled with his party leaders to finalise the list of ministers, the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) was busy with last minute checks and preparations at the Vidhana Soudha.<br /><br />From rectifying the defunct CCTVs in the Vidhana Soudha to upgrading computers in the rooms designated for the new ministers, officials were busy running from one end of the Secretariat to the other. <br /><br />According to DPAR officials, 33 rooms have been readied for the new ministers to move in. However, there has been no specific requests for rooms from the probables, said an official. Every time a new ministry is formed, there will be a scramble for the rooms, keeping Vaastu in mind. And, despite Vikasa Soudha being better equipped, ministers are reluctant to have their offices in the new building.<br /><br />Karnataka Development Authority (KDA) Chairman, Mukhyamantri Chandru and the Special Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister, Dr K V Raju, who were appointed by the previous BJP government, have decided to continue in their offices and not vacate them. The DPAR had already issued a circular that all officials including chairpersons of various authorities appointed by the previous regime should vacate the their rooms immediately.<br /><br />‘Previous officials out’<br /><br />Almost all officials as well as the Western Ghats Task Force Chairman, Ananth Hegde Ashisara and Quality Control Taskforce chief C S Vishwanath vacated the premises immediately. But, Dr Raju and Chandru, despite repeated appeals, have refused to vacate, said a DPAR official. <br /><br />Sources said these officials, however, have the privilege of continuing in their office if the new government decides to have them.<br /><br />Further, security around the Vidhana Soudha has been heightened to ensure that there will be no gatecrashers on Day One of the newly-appointed ministers entering the secretariat.<br /><br />There was a mad rush at the Vidhana Soudha on Friday after passes were made available to officials and elected representatives for the swearing-in ceremony of the new ministers to be held at the Raj Bhavan on Saturday. <br /><br />According to officials, as many as 2,000 invitations are being distributed. <br /><br />To overcome the rush, officials have limited one pass per MLA. Lower rung officials and party workers were trying to secure extra passes.<br /></p>
