Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to reward party men with PSU posts

BANGALORE: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is expected to appoint heads of public sector boards and corporations in a week's time, according to a senior cabinet minister, who said the Congress high command has given a green signal for the exercise.
However, a much awaited ministry expansion is unlikely to happen for a month as Digvijaya Singh, the AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka, is overseas and this has stalled all expansion related activities.

Karnataka has about 110 boards and corporations and other bodies, such as development authorities.These entities have 1,265 positions, including those of chairman, vice-chairman, members and directors, which could be filled up with non-officials.

According to party activists, the chief minister could offer some of these plum posts to party men to douse their resentment.

The government bodies include well-known include well-known public sector units like Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, Backward Class Development Corporation, SCST Development Corporation, Mysore Minerals Limited, Karnataka Housing Board, Bangalore Development Authority, Mysore Urban Development Authority etc.

A position such as that of chairman or vicechairman will enable the appointee to run the enterprise and urban body with full political and administrative control, and enjoy perks such as official car and personal staff. Other members too will have a significant say in its affairs and decisions.