Axe may fall on Palike commissioner

Axe may fall on Palike commissioner
Wednesday November 14 2007 08:37 IST

Basavaraj Itnal

BANGALORE: Senior IAS officer and BBMP Commissioner S Subramanya is likely to be transferred out.

The Palike corridors are abuzz with speculations on this count, and the reasons quoted are many. One reason is that Subramanya had a serious rift with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa when he was secretary to finance department in the Kumaraswamy Government.

Yeddyurappa was deputy CM holding the finance portfolio. Last year, Irrigation Minister K S Eshwarappa had demanded additional allocation of funds for Shimoga after the budget was approved.

Yeddyurappa asked Subramanya, incharge of budget to modify it, which he refused, say sources. Subramanya is said to have told his boss that he would make a file noting about his refusal and the reasons.

He reportedly said the minister was welcome to over-rule him. Unable to face the wrath of Yeddyurappa, Subramanya proceeded on long leave. Eventually, Kumaraswamy posted him to BBMP.

Another reason, Palike sources say, is that the Commissioner himself would prefer a comparatively hassle-free posting to heading the BBMP. “Subramanya is too soft and gentle an officer to head a ‘troublesome’ organisation like BBMP. He is an excellent finance man,” remarked a senior official.

As per the coalition pact, the finance department would go to the JD(S), and it will certainly want the official to head the finance department, said another official. In the recent past, every CM has changed the BBMP Commissioner.

When Dharam Singh became CM in the JD(S)- Cong government, K Jothiramalingam was head of the Palike but he was transferred out within months after Kumaraswamy became the CM. K Jairaj who had been lobbying with the Gowdas to return home from his assignment at the World Bank was brought in instead.

As Jairaj’s media presence was too overwhelming for the politicians, they found a convenient candidate in Subramanya. Kumaraswamy then brought Jothiramalingam to the urban development department realising his ‘mistake’, said sources.

Whatever be the reason, Palike seems to be all set to have a new chief.