Suspecting mala fide intentions behind the decision by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) to hold interviews to select candidates for the posts of second division assistants for panchayat raj institutions, the Janata Dal (United) on Monday served a three-day ultimatum for the commission to withdraw the system.
It warned that it would launch a dharna in front of the KPSC office on January 24 if the system of holding interviews to choose second division assistants was not dropped.
Addressing a press conference here, Janata Dal(U) State president M.P. Nadagouda said that there was no need to hold interviews for lower level posts such as second division assistants as written tests had been conducted.
Pointing out that the system had been introduced for the first time, he said that this had given rise to suspicion that corrupt practices may be adopted while selecting candidates. The KPSC interviews to select 2,150 second division assistants are set to commence on January 27, he said.
He also urged the government to initiate action against those involved in the KPSC scandal based on the report of the CID that conducted a probe into the alleged corruption in the selection of gazetted probationers by the commission. He also sought remodelling of the KPSC on the basis of the Union Public Service Commission.
He said that the Janata Dal(U) would launch a campaign in February under the leadership of veteran freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy against bringing a large number of roads under toll collection.
Taking exception to political parties trying to woo Pramoda Devi, widow of Srikantadatta Wadiyar of the Mysore royal dynasty, he appealed to the parties to ensure her unanimous election as an independent candidate instead of bringing pressure on her to join them.
