Media Academy Post: M.A. Ponnappa left in the lurch

Who sabotaged the appointment of M.A. Ponnappa as the chairman of the Karnataka Madhyama (Media) Academy?

Sources said the infighting in the Karnataka BJP leadership had led to the exit of Ponnappa.

Within just four days after he assumed office, the Karnataka government issued an order, keeping his appointment in abeyance.

Ponnappa, who retired from Prajavani newspaper’s sports section, assumed office as chairman of the Academy on December 12, 2011. However, the government issued an order on December 16 to keep the appointment order in abeyance.

In the past five month, Ponnappa has been trying desperately to influence the government to reinstate him, but without much success so far.

In the first place, the appointment of the Academy was flawed. Though the by-law of the Academy provides for the appointment of 23 members, the government had appointed 24 members to the Academy.

Besides, sources said former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa’s son B.Y. Raghavendra, Lok Sabha member, had recommended one of the candidates for membership. When BJP state president K.S. Eshwarppa learnt about the appointment of Raghavendra’s candidate, the former took exception to it on the ground that Raghavendra’s candidate had “links with the Maoists”.

Consequently, Eshwarappa is learnt to have directed that the order appointing the media academy be kept in abeyance.

In the given circumstances, the government has several options. The government can rectify the defects in the constitution of the Academy and continue Ponnappa as chairman, or appoint some other person as chairman.

The tenure of the chairman is for three years. Since the government has just a little over one year to complete its term, the government may not constitute a new committee till the formation of the next government.

Moreover, in view of the instability of the government because of the infighting between former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and chief minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, the government may not want to take any decision till there is stability in the government.

Meanwhile, a couple of journalists have tried to lobby with the chief minister to make them as chairman of the media Academy.