Newskarnataka-Bangalore

Bangalore: The state authorities received over 6,000 applications for the coveted Rajyotsav Award, while the awards are limited to just 50 distinguished personalities.

There are likely hood that recommendations will supersede the eligibility criteria.  The recommendations issued by ministers H K Patil, T B Jayachandra and Ambarish seemed the maximum.

The applications are being submitted to CM’s office, office of Kannada and culture minister almost daily.  The ministers, MLAs, influential and dignitaries are exercising pressure on state authorities in this regard.

In spite CM Siddaramaiah is the chairman of Rajyotsav award selection Committee this year, so far no meetings are held in this regard.  Meanwhile, in the past, the minister for Kannada and culture used to be the chairman of selection Committee.  This year, eleven-member selection Committee has been formed under the chairmanship of CM Siddaramaiah.

At the backdrop the president of Kannada Sahitya Academy resigned from the post, the selection Committee has to prepare a list, as in the past years, the Academy used to prepare a list.  The state authorities have taken a stance to select only 50 distinguished personalities out of over 6,000 applications at the backdrop of financial constraints.

As the state regime changed recently, the presidents and members of different Academies tendered their resignations; the lobbying for the coveted posts with the influential ministers seemed to be underway.  Each Academy seems to have received 500 to 1,000 applications in this regard.