BENGALURU: It is often said that well begun is half the job done. Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, who has completed a month in office, seems to be treading this path. While 30 days may be too short a period to judge performance, especially in politics and governance, he is off to a decent start.
His first month was quite hectic, centred around the battle against Covid-19, dousing discontent in BJP over distribution of cabinet berths, and the fallout over the gang-rape of an MBA student in Mysuru recently.
Bommai, known as a shrewd politician, has broken ground on two fronts early on in his stint: he has taken his cue from his debutant cabinet colleague, V Sunil Kumar, and banned garlands and bouquets at his public events, and he asked state police to avoid the archaic guard of honour during his visits to districts. Symbolic as these gestures are, they send out the right message of shunning obsequious and ostentatious behaviour.
At his first cabinet meeting immediately after taking over as the chief minister, Bommai announced a higher education scholarship scheme exclusively for children of farmers, setting aside Rs 1,000 crore. This is expected to benefit the children of around 80 lakh farmers in the state.
Keeping in tune with PM Narendra Modi’s vision, Bommai has constituted panels to improve various agricultural parameters to achieve the goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2022-23. He is also providing impetus to the Jal Jeevan Mission, which seeks to provide tap water in rural areas.
“A generational change in politics and administration appears to be the first impression given by Bommai in his first month,” said professor Ravindra Reshme, a political analyst.
In his Independence Day speech, Reshme noted, Bommai provided an indication of his thought process by saying: “It is easy to give a popular government, but I believe in giving a people-friendly (janapriya alla janopayogi sarkara) with a new approach backed by technology.”
Reshme believes Bommai has broken the stereotype of conducting public affairs and has moved out of the shadow of his mentor and predecessor, BS Yediyurappa, which may prove to be a double-edged sword in the days to come.
Sandeep Shastri, another political analyst, said that Bommai ensured that rival centres of power in the form of deputy CMs were not created. “But he could have been a little more assertive in capping dissent over portfolio allocation. He has given due respect to his mentor, and with the support of the central leadership, he has made sure it doesn’t appear that the former CM called the shots,” he added.
However, there has been some criticism that he is yet to strike a chord with BJP MLAs or emerge as Lingayat leader. But these things can hardly be accomplished in a bare four weeks. Satires are also doing rounds that Bommai has stayed more in Delhi than in Bengaluru in his one month as the CM.
