CM Succumbs to MLA’s Pressure, Appoints Him As V-P of Planning Commission
Bengaluru: Congress MLA B.R. Patil said to be eyeing a ministerial berth in Siddaramaiah’s cabinet has been appointed as Vice-President of Policy and Planning Commission of Karnataka with cabinet rank on Monday. Patil represents Aland Assembly seat in Kalaburagi district.
Sources said the resignation of B.R. Patil as CM’s political adviser on February 1 was reportedly a “pressure tactics” to get a ministerial berth. Now, sources said, acting under pressure from Patil’s decision to quit as his political adviser, Siddaramaiah appointed B.R. Patil as the vice-president of Planning Commission to appease him since they are longtime friends in politics. Sources pointed out that both Patil and Siddaramaiah entered the Assembly in 1983.
A fortnight back, Congress MLA B.R. Patil resigned as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s political adviser. Though Patil did not specify the reasons prior to quitting CM’s political adviser post but sources close to Patil told Deccan Chronicle Patil was unhappy over his seniority constantly overlooked by the party to elevate him as a Minister.
Patil is miffed at his junior from Kalaburagi, Priyank Kharge, elevation to the post of a Minister in Siddaramaiah’s cabinet.
While Patil is in electoral politics since the 1980s but never served as a Minister, Priyank Kharge entered electoral politics in 2009 and won thrice from Chittapur Assembly seat (reserved for Scheduled Castes) in Kalaburagi, is holding the post of Minister of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj under Siddaramaiah. Priyank Kharge, son of former minister and president of All India Congress Committee (AICC).
