Bengaluru: Finally, the state government announced the Rajotsava award winners list. This list of 63 achievers includes the names of former governor, Margaret Alva, 103-year-old Guruva Koraga, Kere Kamegowda of 14 lake fame among others.
Former Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court HL Dattu, director HN Bhargava, Ammembala Anand, Yakshagana artists Hiriyadka Gopala Rao, Sitharama Kumar Kateel, Annu Devadiga from Dharmastala are other important achievers selected for the award.
This year’s award was delayed due to various reasons. While the government said that the bypolls in the state prevented it from holding the event as poll code of conduct was in place, the Election Commission rejected this claim. However, sources in the power corridors of the state said that CM Kumaraswamy did not want any awkward situation arising with his coalition partner over the issue of selecting names for the prestigious award.
It is said that scores and scores of entries, specifically with political recommendations had come in, leaving the government in a fix.
Hence it is said that the government bought time to settle with 63 names from the list.