Files at all levels of the administration are moving at a snail’s pace even 15 months after coming to power, the Speaker rued at an impromptu interaction with the media.
In an embarrassment to Chief Minster Siddaramaiah’s government just a day before byelections to three Legislative Assembly constituencies, Legislative Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa said “there is no transparency in the administration of the government” and there was laxity on the part of the Chief Minister to respond to the grievances of the public.
The Congress veteran said: “I don’t see any difference between the incumbent Congress government and the previous BJP government,” which was ousted primarily on charges of corruption in the last Assembly elections.
While Mr. Thimmappa has criticised the government on the Floor of the Assembly on several occasions, this is his most scathing criticism about its performance over the last 15 months.
Mentioning that the Congress government came to power making several promises to the electorate, it has to fulfil them. He said: “But the government is performing on expected lines. I am not seeing any transparency in the State administration. The people will not be happy if the government is not transparent.”
Files at all levels of the administration are moving at a snail’s pace even 15 months after coming to power, the Speaker rued at an impromptu interaction with the media on Tuesday. This was after receiving a complaint from an RTI activist.
Mr. Thimmappa said he wrote a letter to the government a few months ago highlighting things to be done in various departments to make them accountable. However, the reply that he got was “we have received your letter and will take necessary action”.
Noting the existence of bogus ration cards, he said officials have not been responding to petitions submitted by the public. “The government machinery must become effective,” he said.
While the Speaker said he would not say that the Chief Minister has failed, he said Mr. Siddaramaiah should rise to the occasion and tour districts to fulfil promises made to the people. On his ambition to join the State Cabinet, Mr. Thimmappa said: “I am not ready to go to Delhi with folded hands requesting the high command to make me a Minister. I have been elected as legislator. I will discharge my duties as an MLA.” He defended the scrapping of the selection list of 2011 KPSC gazetted officers. “The time has come to overhaul the entire process.” There had been complaints of large-scale irregularities in the selection of candidates, he said.
