Chief minister clears appointments to boards, corporations

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday met a long-pending demand of the Congress workers and functionaries by clearing the political appointments of members and directors to various state-run boards and corporations.

According to sources in the state secretariat, as many as 788 directors and members in 110 boards, corporations and authorities have been finalised and intimation letters are being sent to the appointees.

The move comes as a Ugadi gift to the Congress workers and functionaries, but the exact burden on the state exchequer due the appointments is not immediately known.

There has been a demand for finalising the political appointments ever since the Congress government took over the reins of power nearly three years ago.

 However, the list was finalised after a lot of deliberation between Siddaramaiah and state Congress president G Parameshwara in the past few weeks.

There was also pressure from ministers and MLAs that their aides be included in the list. Appointments of presidents and vice presidents of various boards and corporations were made last year.

Many aspirants
Sources said there were a lot of aspirants for these political appointments as directors and members get a chance to participate in decision-making. 

They also get a chance to have a say in the selection of beneficiaries of government programmes attached to a particular board and corporation. 

Some financially sound corporations also provide facilities to directors like use of office vehicles, travel and daily allowance.

Some of the most sought-after boards and corporations are the Housing Board, Slum Clearance Board, Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board, Food and Civil Supplies Corporation and institutions attached to the Social Welfare Department.