Budget meet: Chaos over Manivannan's absence

MYSORE: The first time in its 100-year history, the Mysore Urban Development Authority has put off the budget meeting. Reason: Absence of deputy commissioner and MUDA chairman Manivannan.
MUDA commissioner P C Jayanna failed to convince the members stating that Manivannan was in Bangalore to attend a meeting with chief secretary S V Ranganath. But it turns out that Jayanna had emphasised on the budget meeting though he was aware that Manivannan would not be chairing it.The date was cleared earlier this week by Manivannan. But when he got to know that he would have to be in Bangalore, he wanted to put it off. Manivannan told Sunday Times of India that the commissioner insisted that it should be held on Saturday, a line Jayanna toyed with the members at the meeting. The commissioner's contention was that the budget meeting has to be held on Saturdays since the legislators are busy attending the legislature session.
Before the meeting commenced, some members got to know that Manivannan would not be attending it. Then the trouble began and they planned a boycott. But at the end of it, Jayanna was clueless about what to say. "Since the meeting did not commence, we cannot say it is postponed. As the members were present, it cannot be termed as cancelled. It is safe to say it did not happen," Jayanna told reporters.
Manivannan's absence was taken seriously when JD(S) MLC Sandesh Nagaraj raised his objection and made known that he will not attend the meeting. BJP MLC Thontadarya joined him saying Manivannan has shown disrespect to the members and the House. Nagaraj said they had asked the officials not to convene the meeting on March 20. They attended the House till late in the evening and came to the city to attend the budget meeting since it is important. "But the DC does not think so," JD(S) MLC K T Srikantegowda said.