Karnataka Governor takes over administration

Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur formally took over the administration of the State by addressing a meeting of top officials of all Government Departments at the State Secretariat Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore yesterday.

Unlike other Governors, who functioned from Raj Bhavan even from the State was brought under federal rule, Thakur will be occupying the office of the Chief Minister situated on the third floor of Vidhana Soudha.

After addressing Principal Secretaries and Secretaries of all Government Departments, besides the Director General of Karnataka Police and the Commissioner of Bangalore City Police yesterday, Thakur said he would be present at the Vidhana Soudha between 10.30 am and 1.30 pm on all working days.

According to officials in the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), the Governor prefers to function from the Vidhana Soudha to have a direct feel of the administration.

“Apart from holding meetings with officials of various departments, the Governor will meet the general public on alternate days between 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm at Vidhana Soudha”, according to a statement from the Governor’s Secretariat.

Though Karnataka was brought under federal rule in a decision late on Tuesday and was gazetted on Wednesday, Thakur was unable to hold official meetings on Thursday in view of the state mourning on account of the former Chief Minister S R Bommai’s demise. However, the meeting was held on Friday.

Meanwhile, Principal Secretary to DPAR Syed Zamir Pasha told reporters that the Governor would be functioning from the Chief Minister’s office in the Vidhana Soudha.
Karnataka was brought under federal rule on Tuesday after the BJP withdrew its support to the Kumaraswamy-led Government in the wake of JD (S)’ refusal to hand over power to BJP as per a power-sharing agreement between the two parties