Don't consider sitting, former legislators for posts: Digvijay

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is understood to have told AICC General Secretary incharge of Karnataka Digvijay Singh that the process to appoint heads to various boards and corporations would be completed by the month-end.

At an informal meeting at Kumara Krupa guest house, Singh is learnt to have enquired about the status of appointments, which has been delayed reportedly due to differences between KPCC President G Parameshwara and himself. Parameshwara too was present. Singh, who was in Bangalore on a private visit, left for Delhi in the evening. Sources said Singh has told both Siddaramaiah and Parameshwara not to appoint sitting legislators, former legislators and defeated candidates in the last Assembly elections as board and corporation heads. Instead, he asked them to give priority to those denied tickets to contest last Assembly elections and loyal party workers. 

Former legislators have been mounting pressure on the party to get a plum board or corporation. About 70 former legislators recently met Siddaramaiah and Parameshwara and submitted a memorandum. Singh said priority will be given to loyal party workers at the time of appointment. Sitting MLAs and former legislators will not get preference over others in this regard. “We intend to engage them (sitting MLAs and former legislators) in party work.

Our intention is to give chance to those who were previously denied,” he added. After the meeting, Siddaramaiah and Parameshwara had breakfast at a hotel and are learnt to have discussed about selection of names for the appointment.