BIJAPUR: The new Janata Dal (Secular)-BJP coalition Government has asserted that it is committed to the report of the High Power Committee for Redressal of Regional Imbalance headed by D.M. Nanjundappa.

While acknowledging the overall backwardness of the north Karnataka region consisting of 12 districts from Mumbai Karnataka and Hyderabad Karnataka divisions, the committee recommended several short and long-term socio-economic and political measures to undo the regional imbalance.

Equitable distribution

It suggested an equitable distribution of Governmental appointments, including those in boards and corporations and academies. Such measures, it felt, bring a sense of participation among the people and thus help discourage the tendency to raise demands such as formation of a separate State.

Can the new regime headed by H.D. Kumaraswamy provide a fair deal to the region? Expectation is high among the people of the region also for the reason that more number of MLAs from the region are now part of ruling combine. That seems to have made the task of finalising list of ministerial candidates difficult.

With the BJP being new partner, the seat-matrix of ruling combine in the Legislative Assembly has changed drastically. Of the 95 MLAs from the north Karnataka region, the previous regime headed by N. Dharam Singh had the support of 49 members including 24 from the Congress.

A headcount

However, the new ruling combine has the support of 63 MLAs (out of 95 MLAs). Of this, the BJP alone contributes 42 members including an associate member. The Janata Dal (S) has 18 MLAs in north Karnataka. However, its MLA from Guledgud segment in Bagalkot district, H.Y. Meti, has aligned with the rival faction headed by former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Yet, it has made up the loss by obtaining the support of Kannada Nadu Party member Narasimha Naik alias Rajugouda of Surpur segment. Besides, it has two associate members from the region. Two MLAs from the Janata Dal (U) in the region are also supporting the new regime raising its strength to 63.

According to the president of Karnataka State Chemists and Druggists Association D.S. Guddodagi, who is also the former president of North Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Hubli, the corrective measures with regard to regional imbalance should begin with Cabinet expansion.

The region has a louder voice in the new Government now, and accordingly more number of MLAs from the region should be inducted into the Ministry. Besides, they should be allotted portfolios that can help expedite infrastructure projects in the region, he said.

In the previous regime, there were 14 ministers in the Cabinet rank from the region. Apart from the posts of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, the important portfolios such as Home, Revenue, Water Resources, Transport, Urban Development and Panchayat Raj and Rural Development were vested with ministers from the region.

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