Fresh row in poll-bound Chitrakala Parishath

Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, which will seek election in June for the executive committee, is dogged by a fresh controversy.

A section of the life members of CKP is demanding that the sub-committee constituted to scrutinise the enrolment of new members to the Parishath be dissolved immediately.

They contend that enrolling fresh members at the time of election to the executive committee of CKP is “undemocratic and unethical”.

Election to the executive committee is held once in three years, where 15 incumbent members, including the president, vice presidents and general secretary, will make way for new members. Currently, Congress leader B L Shankar heads the executive committee as the president. There are around 153 life members in CKP enrolled from the time it was founded.As enrolment of life members was stopped over a decade ago, there have been no new members.

Life members, including founding member P Rajashekar, artist Babu Eshwar Prasad, K T Shivaprasad, Krishna Reddy, Lakshmipathy Babu and others, who have been raising objections to the functioning of the executive committee, have also contended that Shankar did not enjoy primary membership. Having moved the court against him, they have also demanded Shankar’s resignation on various grounds, including favouritism and financial embezzlement. When contacted, Eshwar Prasad said Shankar was in the process of enrolling his “supporters” with an ulterior motive to win the election and to “capture” CKP.

“In spite of rigid opposition by members, Shankar is continuing with his efforts to enrol new members through manipulation and coercive measures. He is resorting to undemocratic and unethical acts just to win the CKP election by hook or by crook.” He said the sub-committee was constituted with this sole intention and demanded that it be dissolved immediately.

The executive committee set up the sub-committee headed by its general secretary D K Chowta in February. The committee is required to scrutinise applications and make recommendations to the executive committee.

Charges baseless, says Shankar

Terming the charges against him as baseless, Congress leader and executive committee president B L Shankar said there was no proposal to enrol new members till the election was over. “However, it is pertinent to bring in fresh blood to  CKP.

With 82 life members dead, there are only 153 members. Of these, around 30 are inactive. Over the years, several artists have sought enrolment, and the sub-committee has been set up to consider these applications,” he said. He said there was no rule stipulating that enrolment should not take place at the time of election.

In May, the executive committee will approach the district registrar to hold the election, following which the calendar of events will be published.