BANGALORE: The new Government is likely to reconstitute the 10 academies, the Kannada Development Authority and the Kannada Book Authority after the expansion of the Ministry.

Sources told The Hindu that the Government has to reconstitute or make drastic changes in the set-up of the academies because of the new political compulsions.

In the course of revamping the academies, the Government may also opt for changes in the Department of Kannada and Culture to ensure smooth administration.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is a partner in the coalition Government with the Janata Dal (Secular), has its own ideology and distinct views on matters of culture and literature. Hitherto, ideological issues were not of much concern in the academies as the former coalition partners, the Congress and the Janata Dal (S), more or less shared the same views.

The new Government, which is all set to celebrate the golden jubilee year of the reorganisation of the State, is keen on giving a facelift to the activities of the Department of Kannada and Culture in a phased manner.

The Government is not likely to ask the chairpersons of the academies to resign outright, but will leave it to their conscience to take the right decision. It, however, expects the incumbents to respond to the changed political situation with understanding, the sources said.

The appointment of members to the Sahitya, Nataka, Lalitakala, Shilpakala, Sangeeta-Nritya, Urdu, Kodava, Konkani, Tulu and Janapada-Yakshagana academies and the Kannada Book Authority was made in early 2005 though the tenure of some of the academies expired on June 16, 2004.

The tenure of the Kannada Development Authority will expire on March 15, 2006. Its chairperson has Cabinet rank and intense lobbying for the post has become common in recent years.

There is also talk of reconstituting the Karnataka Madhyama Academy, which is now headed by the veteran journalist V.N. Subba Rao.

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