Bangalore:
At the Vidhan Soudha or state secretariat in Bangalore, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, DV Sadananda Gowda has his hands full, quite literally. He is not only the Chief Minister of Karnataka but also minister for Finance, Health, Higher Education, Information Technology, Women and Child Welfare, Sports and .... the list goes on. He holds a total of 21 portfolios. That is more portfolios for him, than the number of the ministers in his cabinet.
The reason is simple. Four ministers of Karnataka BJP government's cabinet are in jail on corruption charges. Three others- of which two were ministers, had to quit after being caught watching pornography in the assembly. As a result, Mr Gowda is left with little option but handle the departments himself. So there are files stacked up, cases pending and administration that is moving at a sluggish pace. "Yes it is very difficult but I am somehow pulling along with 21 portfolios." admits the Chief Minister to NDTV.
A long pending cabinet expansion has been put on hold because Nitin Gadkari, the BJP President is busy with the preparations for his son's wedding. "I have informed him (Nitin Gadkari) so hopefully we can make changes in the cabinet after his son's wedding."
With BS Yeddyurappa, the former chief minister getting anticipatory
bail in the illegal mining scam being probed by the CBI, things are a bit more difficult for friend turned foe Sadananda Gowda.
Among the already few ministers in his cabinet, at least 9 ministers loyal to Mr Yeddyurappa constantly bunk office, and even threaten to quit every time Mr Yeddyurappa begins his campaign to oust Mr Gowda.
The opposition is only too happy to attack the ruling government. "One man cannot run a single ministry, if he is unable to take all in the department along. How can a chief minister, a single individual handle so many portfolios? We are not bothered about the infighting in BJP. What about administration?" asks Mr Parameshwar, the Pradesh Congress Committee President.
Karnataka made its poorest score at the global investors meet held recently in Bangalore. Many analysts say this was due to the political instability in the state. Karnataka is less than a year away from elections. With the BJP a divided house, the JDS still reviving losses and the Congress virtually insignificant, the tax payers have their hands on their heads.
The reason is simple. Four ministers of Karnataka BJP government's cabinet are in jail on corruption charges. Three others- of which two were ministers, had to quit after being caught watching pornography in the assembly. As a result, Mr Gowda is left with little option but handle the departments himself. So there are files stacked up, cases pending and administration that is moving at a sluggish pace. "Yes it is very difficult but I am somehow pulling along with 21 portfolios." admits the Chief Minister to NDTV.
A long pending cabinet expansion has been put on hold because Nitin Gadkari, the BJP President is busy with the preparations for his son's wedding. "I have informed him (Nitin Gadkari) so hopefully we can make changes in the cabinet after his son's wedding."
With BS Yeddyurappa, the former chief minister getting anticipatory
bail in the illegal mining scam being probed by the CBI, things are a bit more difficult for friend turned foe Sadananda Gowda.
Among the already few ministers in his cabinet, at least 9 ministers loyal to Mr Yeddyurappa constantly bunk office, and even threaten to quit every time Mr Yeddyurappa begins his campaign to oust Mr Gowda.
The opposition is only too happy to attack the ruling government. "One man cannot run a single ministry, if he is unable to take all in the department along. How can a chief minister, a single individual handle so many portfolios? We are not bothered about the infighting in BJP. What about administration?" asks Mr Parameshwar, the Pradesh Congress Committee President.
Karnataka made its poorest score at the global investors meet held recently in Bangalore. Many analysts say this was due to the political instability in the state. Karnataka is less than a year away from elections. With the BJP a divided house, the JDS still reviving losses and the Congress virtually insignificant, the tax payers have their hands on their heads.
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