Government to soon appoint Chairman to Backward Classes Commission

BANGALORE: Karnataka government would soon appoint a chairman to the Backward Classes Commission, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said today.

The government will identify a suitable person to head the Commission in about a week's time, Gowda told reporters after offering floral tributes to late Chief Minister D Devaraj Urs, to mark the backward classes leader's birth anniversary.

The government has released Rs two crore for constructing a memorial in the name of Urs, he said.

Later Gowda presented the Devaraj UrS award to former minister H G Govinda Gowda for his contribution to the welfare of backward classes.

Speaking on the occasion, he said the BJP government in the state has allocated Rs 585 crore for Backward Classes Development Corporation and Rs 284.99 crore to the Minorities Development Corporation.

Earlier participating in a function where he inaugurated the City branch of the Suttur Mutt, Gowda said he was yet to decide whether to contest from an assembly seat or to become member of the Legislative Council.

Gowda, who was sworn-in as chief minister on August four in the wake of political developments in BJP following the resignation by B S Yeddyurappa, has to become a member of either houses of the state legislature within six months.

Gowda is currently Lok Sabha MP from Udupi-Chikmagalur constituency.