Changes in Krishna Ministry surprise senior leaders

By S.K. Ramoo

BANGALORE, FEB. 20. For the first time, 15 months after taking over as Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr. S.M.Krishna, effected changes in his 41-member Ministry on Friday last. This is no minor reshuffle - three Ministers of State were given independent charge and a Cabinet Minister and Minister of State were given additional portfolios. Both in Government and party circles, there is an overriding sentiment that Mr. Krishna has left incomplete the task of giving a major shake-up to his Ministry by getting rid of the deadwood, the inefficient and the corrupt.

The Chief Minister, who has been periodically reviewing the various departments of his ministerial colleagues, knew firsthand who was efficient and who was not. He was also aware that the conduct of some Ministers was not conducive to good administration; and there is all-round surprise that he has chosen to ignore this.

IT portfolio

Leaders in both the Government and the party are dismayed that the important portfolio of Information Technology, which was with Mr. Krishna all these months, was transferred to the Minister of State for Excise, Mr. M.M. Nanaiah. There was no discernible link between the Excise and IT portfolios. Karnataka, which has been emerging as a major IT centre, following the large share of IT- related export earnings, certainly deserved a Cabinet-rank Minister to consolidate its position. Senior party leaders have found it difficult to see the rationale behind the Chief Minister's action.

It is admitted in Government circles that a computer- illiterate Mr. Nanaiah does not posses the right credentials to head the IT department. The reason cited for the Chief Minister giving up the IT portfolio is that he was too preoccupied with administration; however, he continues to hold heavy portfolios such as the Finance, Power and Personnel and Administrative Reforms.

The Home Minister, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge, has been entrusted with the portfolios of Mr. T. John, who was eased out for his statements on the Gujarat earthquake.

According to some senior - ``dispassionate'' - party leaders, a couple of Ministers, including the Minister of State for Higher Education, Dr. Parameshwar, and the Minister of State for Information, Prof. B.K.Chandrashekar, are eminently suitable to head the IT Ministry. They had proved their mettle and their clean public image was an additional asset.

It is surprising that Mr. Krishna has not chosen to utilise the services of the latter, who has a lighter portfolio in Information. Mr. Chandrshekhar was a professor at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, and at the National Law School of India. He brought immense credit to the Government as one of architects of the Right to Information legislation, paving the way for transparent administration. The progressive legislation even caught the fancy of other States and senior officials of the World Bank.

Pressure through AICC?

It is said that several of the Ministers brought pressure on members of the AICC to secure independent status for their Minsitries. It is pointed out that some of them did not deserve such an elevation as they had failed to display administrative dynamism or good governance.

On the other hand, the Chief Minister's camp feels that Mr. Krishna had his own reasons for making the kind of changes he has done. They argue that he is the first Congress Chief Minister to have prevented internal bickerings and dissidence from coming out into the open.

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