The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Only Chief Minister can review Ministers' work: Deve Gowda

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 03, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Only Chief Minister can review Ministers' work: Deve Gowda

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: Even as AICC General Secretary A.K. Antony left Bangalore after reviewing the performance of his party Ministers, Janata Dal (Secular) President H.D. Deve Gowda has taken the stand that only Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh has the constitutionally approved right to review the performance of his Ministers irrespective of their party affiliation.

Prerogative

He was replying to questions raised by presspersons pertaining to the issues gone into during the performance review conducted by Mr. Antony here on Saturday.

Clarifying that he had no comments to offer, Mr. Deve Gowda said that the Chief Minister had the prerogative to review the achievements and failures of his Government and call for details in the interests of the Government and the public as part of his responsibilities.

But in the strict sense of constitutional rights and prerogative, neither the Deputy Chief Minister nor any other person holding any position in the party or the government could conduct such exercises.

When his attention was drawn to the reported references made at the review meeting about some portfolios held by Janata Dal (S) Ministers, Mr. Deve Gowda sought details and the context in which they were made.

He would discuss issues only with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, the Janata Dal (S) President said. Mr. Deve Gowda refused to comment on the reported remarks of some Congress leaders at the review meeting that the Janata Dal (S) held 60 per cent of the weighty portfolios and that the Congress should claim equality.

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