Bengaluru: Next time, you zip through Ambedkar Veedhi late in the evening, don’t be surprised to see the ‘government at work’ at the magnificent Vidhana Soudha.
The corridors of power seem to have opened up to a sea of visitors from Day One, soon after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took the oath of office. A month later, you can find a handful of ministers always in attendance, while working late hours has become a norm rather than an exception, as bureaucrats themselves admit.
“A typical working day in Vidhana Soudha no longer ends at 5 pm. A long stream of people and party workers continue to flow in and meet the ministers who work till late in the evening,” says a cop on duty. The observation seems just precise, as the security deployment at Vidhana Soudha has increased by 20 per cent since last month with the number of visitors touching 500.
“We have enhanced the number of security personnel as there is an increase in the number of visitors coming to meet the chief minister and ministers. We will need to fill another 120 vacancies too,” admits DCP Laxman Singh, in-charge of Vidhana Soudha security.
The sudden flutter of activity in the seat of democracy appears routine given that a new government has taken charge. But the activity is unmatched, claim officials.
“Almost every day, there are marathon meetings – from review meetings of departments, pre-budget meetings, transfers and meetings with national and international delegations. The officers are constantly on their toes. Rolling out the schemes promised in the Congress election manifesto are high on priority,” confides an officer.
The action seems to have shifted from the hotels and party offices to the Vidhana Soudha. While, most press meets are held in Vidhana Soudha, the Conference Hall and the Committee Room are witness to all major decisions of the government.