There is some confusion about the appointment of the Vice Chancellor of Bangalore University (BU) Dr N. Prabhudev as the head of the proposed Karnataka State Rural Health Education Commission, with the ministers concerned not being too keen on the move. According to university officials, they have not received any information on the new responsibilities of the vice chancellor. And Health Minister Aravind Limbavali and Medical Education Minister S. A. Ramadas, who would be the best informed on the matter, refused to comment.
Sources in the health department say that though Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar has approved the new appointment of Dr Prabhudev, the order has been withheld following stiff resistance from both Mr Limbavali and Mr Ramadas. "We are expecting the order within a week. Around 20 MLAs of the ruling party are trying to convince both the ministers," a senior officer of the university told this newspaper.
According to highly placed sources in both the medical and health departments, the attempt to elevate Dr Prabhudev to the plum post began three months ago with MLAs close to him lobbying for any State level post for him. But Medical Education Minister S.A. Ramadas opposed the health education commission posting when it was suggested. Now Health Minister Aravind Limbavali, who had a bitter experience of Dr Prabhudev's style of functioning when he was the higher education minister, is also opposing any posting that could bring them in contact again.
A close associate of Mr Limbavali told this newspaper that even though the new posting has been approved by the Chief Minister, there is no intention of creating this new body at the health department. "When Mr Limbavali was higher education minister he had several confrontations with Dr Prabhudev. He doesn’t want to repeat the same here again,” the source said.