In a major reshuffle, the state government has appointed M Lakshminarayana as the new commissioner of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

According to an official press release, Lakshminarayana, the principal secretary, Department of Housing, will replace Siddaiah, who retires from service upon superannuation on Friday.

Siddaiah, who was principal secretary, Department of Higher Education, was posted as BBMP commissioner when the garbage mess had gripped the city. The High Court made caustic remarks about the functioning of BBMP and its failure to address the garbage menace. It became a tool for the Congress to attack the then ruling BJP for turning a blind eye to the garbage mess.

Subsequently, bowing to pressure, the government brought back Siddaiah to BBMP as its commissioner.

'Challenging job ahead'

The post of BBMP Commissioner is quite challenging, said M Lakshminarayana, who will assume charge as the urban body’s commissioner on Friday.

He succeeds Siddaiah, whose five-month tenure ends on Friday upon his superannuation.

Lakshminarayana, from the 1987 IAS batch, has served in various departments including, Land, Revenue, Rural and Urban Development, Transport, Agriculture and Co-operation. He was secretary to three Chief Ministers - B S Yeddyurappa, D V Sadananda Gowda and Jagadish Shettar.

Speaking to Express, he said: “Bangalore is our city. Joint effort is required to take the city forward. There is a need to motivate public too. The job of BBMP Commissioner is challenging than other posts,” he said.

About the new Commissioner, Siddaiah said: “Lakshminarayana is definitely aware of developments in the BBMP. He has been secretary to the CM for the past five years and was also principal secretary to Urban Development Department. In that sense, he is not new to the assignment. He also has the experience of being the CEO at Belgaum Zilla Panchayat for four years and was also Shimoga DC. He has immense experience of working with non-officials right from CM to ministers to ZP members,” he said.

Other tranfers

T M Vijay Bhaskar has been transferred as principal secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj. Dr E V Ramana Reddy, principal secretary, RDPR Department, has been transferred as principal secretary, Housing Department. P N Sreenivasachary, who was principal secretary, Urban Development Department (Municipalities and urban development authorities), has been given additional charge of Urban Development Department. Dr Suresh Kunhi Mohammad has been transferred as mission director, National Rural Health Mission.