For the second time, Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) is being held in the absence of the chairperson of the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy (KCA). The first BIFFes, organised by the government through the KCA, was held under the chairmanship of T.S. Nagabharana, the second one was held during actor Tara’s tenure as the head of the academy. The post has remained vacant since June 2013 after Ms. Tara quit.
Government apathy in filling the post has stalled programmes that commenced during Mr. Nagabharana’s tenure. Sources said major decisions pertaining to the Karnataka International Children Film Festival and the seventh edition of BIFFes, scheduled to begin on December 4, could not be taken as the post of the chairperson of the academy remains vacant.
Similar is the situation in the Kannada Development Authority (KDA). The authority has remained without a chairperson since Mukhyamantri Chandru’s term ended on June 8. The case of Karnataka Border Area Development Authority (KBADA) is no different. The authority has no chairman from the past three years.