Jewargi MLA Dr. Ajay Singh appointed as chairman of KKRDB

Team Udayavani, Aug 10, 2023, 8:38 PM IST

Dr. Ajay Singh, MLA of Jewargi Constituency, has been named Chairman of the Kalyan Karnataka Development Board (KKRDB), sparking discussions about the role of a minister versus an MLA in this position.

Traditionally, KKRDB presidents were ministers, but a BJP-led amendment changed this to MLA leadership. Yelburga Constituency’s Basavaraja Rayareddy argued for ministerial leadership.

Dr. Ajay Singh, a consecutive three-time Jewargi MLA, held positions such as Delhi Special Representative and Chief Whip of the Opposition. Despite seeking a ministerial role, he was appointed board chairman.

During the Griha Jyoti Yojana launch, Dr. Mallikarjuna Kharge pledged Rs 5,000 crore to KKRDB, proposing CM-led reviews for effective fund utilization.

No funds have been released to KKRDB this fiscal year, and no action plan or approval process has been outlined yet. The new president bears this responsibility.

In a Kalaburagi District Ministers and MLAs meeting chaired by CM Siddaramaiah, KKRDB matters, including president appointment and secretary continuity, were discussed.

Notably, both the president and members have been appointed concurrently. For the first time, Rajya Sabha members, alongside MLAs, comprise the board. This includes Syed Naseer Hussain from Bellary, BR Patil from Kalaburagi, Raja Venkatappa Nayaka from Yadgiri, Basavaraja Rayareddy from Koppal, Hampanagowda Baderli from Raichur, Raghavendra Hitnala from Koppal, Tukaram and H. R. Gaviyappa from Bellary, Vidhan Parishad member Aravinda Arali from Bidar, and Tippannappa Kamakanur from Kalaburagi.