Date:14/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/14/stories/2006051423420300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Shanthakumari named administrator of Chitrakala Parishath

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The State Government has appointed L. Shanthakumari, Principal Secretary to the Department of Information, Tourism and Youth Services, as the administrator of the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath following the battle for supremacy to control its administration between two factions.

One of the factions is led by the Congress leader and former Chairman of the Legislative Council B.L. Shankar, and the other by K.M. Saroja Nanjappa, who is supported by Sridevi Rao, daughter of founder secretary of the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath M.S. Nanjunda Rao.

A resolution passed by the executive committee of the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath replacing Mr. Shankar led to the controversy.

The Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath's secretary D.K. Chowta was also replaced.

Mr. Shankar had questioned the validity of the resolution and asserted that he was still the president of the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath as he was elected to the post.

He had sought the intervention of the Government in this regard.

The controversy took an ugly turn when members of one of the factions went to the extent of locking up the offices of the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath.