Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy to appoint his own men in key departments

BENGALURU: In what seems to be a calculated and “strategic” initiative, chief minister H D Kumaraswamy has decided to appoint technocrats, a few with family connections, as part of his core team to manage the affairs of the state.
The move also suggests that Kumaraswamy will keep a hawk eye on key development portfolios like irrigation (Cauvery in specific), finance, health and higher education.
Hiring retired bureaucrats or those considered experts in their fields, is not a new trend. Former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa started it in 2008 by appointing former chief secretary A Ravindra as adviser on infrastructure, and Dr K V Raju as economic adviser; former Congress CM Siddaramaiah appointed retired IPS officer Kempaiah as adviser to the home department.
Though Kumaraswamy had criticized Kempaiah’s appointment and referred to him as “super home minister”, it appears that he is taking the same route to keep key departments under the scanner.