A Dangerous Trend

Since taking charge, CM Shri Yeddyurappa has spoken about his plans and ideas on a wide range of issues. But one thing he has been silent about is the issue of election to Bangalore's ULBs. But that does not mean he is disconnected from Bangalore's issues, he is reported to have "set his eyes" on the rather mundane issue of shifting the race course from present location. His other plans for Bangalore we have read about. Now, to be fair he is also the minister incharge of bangalore, and thus his interest in such minute details of bangalore's issues are perhaps well placed. But when asked about the paalike elections, which is exactly the type of issue that he should tackling as a CM, this is what he had to say as reported in an article in the Deccan Herald: “I have not thought about it as yet... Let us do some good work and then go for elections.” But he said this is the right time for officers to work for the development of the City. “If an officer wants to do good for the City, then this is the right time. There is no elected body,” the chief minister said. What do you make of this statement? Isn't it ominous for a CM to be making statements like these and worse, reinforce such seditious ideas into the babudom? or is he only making a candid observation about how our corporators operate? At best, this betrays an attempt to make political capital for himself and his party from bangalore's woes - a trend now in fashion amongst the state's politicians. At the worst, this is a seditious approach to governance that betrays total lack of faith in our political-administative setup - the CM does not believe that the elected body can do any good for the city. Worse, this says that the CM believes that the elected body is a hinderence to whatever wants to do and could cramp his style and instead of showing leadership in taking along opposite views and building consensus he thinks it is better to undermine the consitution because it can potentially bring in people whom he cannot directly control. Apparently, the current CM is a hands on - micro manager. But this is not a matter of personal style, this is an issue of governance. And governance, is supposed to transcend personalities. This is not about getting a project done, it is about building systems that can systematically take up projects and get them done. And that is why pesky little things the 74th amendment exist. This is a dangerous trend when people as high in the setup as the CM get so involved and invested in micro details of issues of the city and manipulate the system to impose their wills - even if in the name of doing good. In any case, I am surprised that the CM who seems to have a way with numbers, fails to realize that a significant chunk of bangalore's high impact projects are under the preview of NURM board, which has wisely refused to grant funds for these projects until the ULB is in place.