Karnataka: CN Ashwath & B Sriramulu sulk at BS Yediyurappa’s choice

BENGALURU: Chief minister BS Yediyurappa’s decision to make revenue minister R Ashoka in-charge of Covid-19 operations in Bengaluru hasn’t gone down too well with deputy chief minister CN Ashwath Narayan and health minister B Sriramulu.
“Ideally, Ashwath Narayan should have been his first choice since he’s not only a deputy CM but also a doctor. He was closely monitoring operations in the city,’’ a minister said.
Sriramulu was so upset that he walked out of Saturday’s meeting, citing some pressing engagements.The CM met elected representatives from Bengaluru to seek suggestions on reimposing a lockdown. “When the CM began consulting Ashoka on Covid matters, Sriramulu left in a huff,’’ sources said.
Sriramulu said he had informed the CM that he’d leave early since he had prior engagements in his home district Ballari. But his ministerial colleagues weren’t convinced. “How can a health minister leave midway?” they said.
They added that the CM should have assigned the task to Sriramulu since the pandemic falls under the health ministry and his being in-charge of the state for over two months should have been taken into consideration. “It’s the CM’s discretion. Since Ashoka handled the migrant crisis well, the CM may have thought he is the best bet. Ashoka has more experience than Ashwath Narayan and Sriramulu as he was health minister in the BJP-JD(S) government in 2006-07,’’ said a minister.
A senior bureacrat said: “We don’t know who is the boss and we send all details to all ministers involved. We’ve had four bosses in the past 75 days.’’ The move has also upset health experts who said frequent changes at the top hampers Covid-19 management. Since the outbreak, the government has been battling the power struggle among ministers. Earlier, there were reports of differences of opinion between Sriramulu and Sudhakar and that forced the chief minister to rope in education minister Suresh Kumar.