Appointment of new Chief Secretary triggers fresh rift in Karnataka coalition

The appointment of P B Mahishi as the new Chief Secretary of Karnataka to succeed Malati Das, who retired from duty on yesterday, has triggered a fresh rift in the ruling JD (S)-BJP coalition in Karnataka.

Taking serious exception to the manner in which the Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy overlooked the seniority of four other officials and appointed Mahishi as the new Chief Secretary of the State, the BJP’s Karnataka unit President Sadananda Gowda expressed “shock” over the unexpected development.

“The news of Mahishi’s appointment ignoring the seniority of other officials is shocking. The BJP was given to understand that no out-out-of turn posting will be made to the Chief Secretary’s post. We expected A K Agarwal, who is the senior-most IAS officer in the State, to succeed Malati Das”, Sadananda Gowda said.

“What has prompted the Chief Minister to decide in favour of Mahishi is a puzzle to us”, he said.

Barely three months ago at the time of the retirement of B K Das as the Chief Secretary of Karnataka, BJP was firm on Government sticking to the seniority of officials while making appointments to coveted posts like the Chief Secretary. “Even though Malati Das had only three months of service left, she appointed as Chief Secretary. There is no reason for the Chief Minister to bypass seniority”, Sadananda Gowda said.

But, a section of the BJP sees former Prime Minister and JD (S) supremo H D Deve Gowda’s hand behind the appointment of P B Mahishi as the new chief secretary. With a view to iron out the differences among the coalition partners over the appointment of the Chief Secretary, the BJP is seeking a co-ordination committee meeting of the coalition partners. The co-ordination committee meeting is also expected to discuss the public rejection of a pre-poll tie-up between JD (S) and BJP by Deve Gowda, sources in the BJP said.