States » SouthPosted at: Oct 4 2026 4:12PM


Chairmen have cars, offices but no funds: Narayanaswamy takes dig at Karnataka govt

Bengaluru, Oct 4 (UNI) Karnataka government's much-talked-about political appointments to boards and corporations came under fire on Sunday, with BJP MLC and Legislatve Council LoP Chalavadi Narayanaswamy taking a sharp dig at the Congress government, saying chairmen have been given cars and offices but no money to actually run the schemes they head.
"Chairmen have cars and offices, but there is no money. What development can they undertake?" Narayanaswamy asked, mocking the functioning of government corporations and boards.
He alleged that the state's corporations and boards were facing a severe fund crunch, leaving chairpersons with little more than official trappings and no financial muscle to deliver on their mandate.
"Chairmen are surviving on TA/DA, salaries and transport. There is no money for development work," he said.
Narayanaswamy particularly questioned the implementation of the Ganga Kalyana scheme, besides programmes intended to provide self-employment loans to youth, vehicles and land to beneficiaries.
"There is no money even for Ganga Kalyana. People come to us asking for recommendations, but the chairpersons tell them there are no funds," he said.
He said the government had appointed chairpersons to various corporations and boards but had failed to provide them the resources required to implement welfare and development programmes.
"What is the point of appointing a chairman if there is no money to carry out any work?" he asked.
Narayanaswamy alleged that the situation had reduced several corporations and boards to offices where chairpersons could merely sit, hold meetings and attend to administrative matters without being able to execute meaningful programmes.
His remarks come amid growing political criticism over the functioning and funding of government corporations and boards, with the Opposition questioning whether the appointments have translated into tangible benefits for beneficiaries.
The BJP leader said the government should focus on releasing funds for schemes rather than merely making appointments and providing official facilities to chairpersons.
Narayanaswamy also alleged that the Congress government was using the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as a "tool kit" to target the BJP.
"If those who submit Form 7 applications are to be arrested and criminal cases registered against them, then Congress workers who have also submitted Form 7 should face the same action," he said.
He questioned why Form 7 had been provided if people were to face criminal action merely for filing objections to electoral-roll entries.
"Form 7 is not meant only for BJP workers. Congress workers can also submit it. If names of dead persons or bogus voters are on the rolls, objections can be raised through Form 7," he said.
On the drought situation, Narayanaswamy demanded that the government provide Rs 25,000 per acre to farmers, arguing that the Rs 2,500 announced by the government was grossly inadequate.
He said the Opposition was prepared to join the all-party delegation proposed by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to seek assistance from the Centre, but insisted that adequate relief should first be provided to farmers.
"We are not saying that we will not go. We will go if Rs 25,000 per acre is given. That is our demand," he said.
Narayanaswamy said farmers spend lakhs of rupees on cultivation and that Rs 2,500 would not provide meaningful relief when crops had been destroyed.
He pointed out that the Agriculture Minister had stated in the Legislature that around 82 per cent of crops had been damaged and questioned why farmers should be restricted to a nominal compensation.
"Farmers are called the backbone of the country, but this should not remain confined to speeches. If crops have been destroyed, they must be given adequate compensation so that they can survive," he said.
He also alleged that the State government had announced drought relief but the assistance had not yet reached farmers, and claimed that funds under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) had not been released.
With Central drought assessment teams currently visiting Karnataka, he urged the government to provide them complete information about the crop losses and drought situation and make a strong case for Central assistance.
Narayanaswamy said merely announcing compensation was not enough and that funds should actually reach the affected farmers.
He maintained that the final decision on increasing the compensation and implementing the relief measures rested with the Congress government.
UNI BDN
Tags: #Chairmen have cars# offices but no funds: Narayanaswamy takes dig at Karnataka govt
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