Rahul rejects state list of appointments to boards, corporations

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday advised Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and state Congress president G Parameshwara to take a relook into the list of Congressmen to be appointed as heads of boards and corporations.

Rahul’s suggestion came when the two leaders, along with state Congress working president Dinesh Gundu Rao and Karnataka in-charge general secretary Digvijaya Singh, met him here.

Though the state leadership submitted 80 names, which included 25 sitting MLAs, Rahul reportedly rejected many names on the list stating ‘loyal’ party workers had been kept out.

He is learnt to have advised the state leaders to draw a fresh list on the basis of contribution to the party, the position held so far and the date of joining the organisation.

A relook is expected to delay the appointments to boards and corporations. Rahul had apparently received several complaints from senior leaders that the chief minister was ignoring “loyal” workers and giving importance to new entrants, mostly from his former JD (S) party affiliation.

Rahul, who was also against appointing sitting MLAs to boards and corporations, is said to have questioned the inclusion of elected representatives. “If you give posts to sitting legislators, who are already enjoying privileges, when  will you recognise ordinary workers?” he is learnt to have asked. 

“If you give posts to sitting MLAs, then former MLAs and defeated candidates will also demand some position. As Assembly elections in the state are due within two years, try to accommodate more loyal workers,” he suggested, sources told DH.

After the meeting, Siddaramaiah said a revised list in accordance with the criteria suggested by Rahul Gandhi would be submitted.

Asked when the new list would be ready, the chief minister said all appointments would be through by end of this month. He, however, refused to divulge the new formula of the Gandhi scion.