Guarantees not impeding development of state: CM

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday asserted that the implementation of the guarantee schemes has not hindered any development work in Karnataka.

- EXPRESS News Service @ Belagavi

A contentious Karnataka State Rural Development And Panchayat Raj University (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aimed at removing the powers of the Governor as head of the university, which was introduced in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, is certain to trigger a fierce debate in the House. Including the university bill, the government introduced 11 bills in the lower house on Thursday.

The proposed amendment to the existing bill also proposes to vest the power of the Chief Minister to appoint the Vice-Chancellor, as would take over the position of the Chancellor. The existing law stipulates that the Governor would reconstitute the search committee to appoint the V-C once every three years, but the proposed bill envisages removing this clause and empowering the chief minister to form the panel, which in turn recommends three persons for the V-C post.

The government's move to introduce the amendment bill assumes political significance in the backdrop of the ongoing clash between Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and the Congress government over the MUDA scam.