No ‘Super CM’ in Karnataka, says Mahadevappa

Minister in charge of Mysuru district H.C. Mahadevappa on Wednesday dismissed the Opposition’s criticism referring to AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala as the ‘Super CM’ of Karnataka. He clarified that the State has only one Chief Minister.

Responding to remarks over Mr. Surjewala’s one-to-one meetings with Ministers, Dr. Mahadevappa, who is the Social Welfare Minister and a close confidante of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, told reporters in Mysuru, “Mr. Surjewala is the party in charge for Karnataka and he has the authority to meet Ministers and MLAs. There is no extra constitutional authority in the State as alleged by the Opposition.”

He further stated that there was no opposition to Mr. Surjewala holding such meetings. “Even I met him after returning from Indi. These efforts are aimed at ensuring the stability of the government and the Congress returning to power again,” he added.

Criticising the Centre for violating protocol during the inauguration of the Sigandur bridge, Dr. Mahadevappa said, “The Centre should have written to the Chief Secretary seeking the Chief Minister’s time for the inaugural event. We live in a parliamentary democracy where coordination between the State and the Centre is crucial for development. If both work together, it will ensure rapid progress.”

He termed the inauguration of the bridge without the Chief Minister as an unhealthy practice in parliamentary democracy. “Had the Chief Minister been invited and attended, it would have added greater significance to the event,” he observed.

Dr. Mahadevappa alleged there was “pressure” on the Centre from the State BJP to inaugurate the bridge without the Chief Minister’s presence.

He claimed that the vision for constructing the bridge was that of the State government. “A DPR was prepared for the bridge way back in 2013 based on public feedback. I had requested the Centre then to consider it under the Sagarmala project as the estimated cost was ₹480 to ₹520 crore. Now that NHAI has implemented the project, it is ultimately the State’s vision,” he asserted.