Manjunath Prasad is set to return to the position of BBMP Commissioner, less than two months after he was shunted out in May. Manjunath will replace outgoing Commissioner Maheshwar Rao with immediate effect.
Speaking to TNM, Manjunath confirmed the development and claimed that his first priority will be fixing the garbage issue in the city. "I will be assuming charge from tomorrow. The priority will be to take immediate action to make sure that the roads are clean and free of garbage. For this, we have to ensure payments for pourakarmikas (sanitation workers) and deal with garbage on the roads," he said.
Manjunath, a 1994 batch IAS officer, previously served as BBMP Commissioner for over two years from April 2016. He was abruptly transferred after an order passed by the Election Commission of India (EC) on May 4.
According to EC officials, Manjunath Prasad, who was the District Electoral Officer in Bengaluru Urban, was transferred after a complaint filed by the BJP state unit to the EC.
Maheshwar Rao, who will be replaced by Manjunath, will now take up the vacant position of Secretary to Government, Agriculture Department.
Maheshwar previously held the position until the reshuffle in May saw him elevated to the position of BBMP Commissioner.
In a letter to EC, the BJP had accused Manjunath of delays in responding to small requests of BJP candidates and party workers across the state.
The BJP had particularly mentioned Manjunath for undue delay in granting permission to put up hoardings.
The decision to transfer him with less than 10 days left for the state Assembly elections, had raised eyebrows.
Speaking to TNM, Manjunath at the time had said that he was enforcing the orders of the Karnataka High Court but admitted that he would accept the transfer order. It appears that Manjunath's transfer has been revoked after elections.