Bengaluru (Karnataka): Basavaraj Bommai, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, has no official residence. The newly inducted chief minister of the southern state has found himself in such a situation as, since the last few years, there has not been a government bungalow reserved specifically for the Chief Minister in Karnataka. 'Cauvery' and 'Anugraha', the two houses meant for the state's chief minister, have already been occupied by former chief minister BS Yediyurappa and Lokayukta Justice Vishwanath Shetty. The third residence - popularly known as the Race Course Residence - is 'too small' to accommodate people that visit the chief minister.
Traditionally, 'Anugraha' had been earmarked to house the chief minister. However, several chief ministers in the past preferred staying in other buildings due to superstitions and beliefs among other factors. Hence, though the state has bungalows reserved for the Governor, Director of State Police (DSP), Chief Secretary to Government, Heads of State Ministries, Judiciary and Executive, Cabinet members, Speakers of Vidhana Sabha and Vidhana Parishad and the leader of the Opposition party, the state's supremo doesn't have one for himself.
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Anugraha residence considered 'cursed'
Interestingly, of the chief ministers who resided in Anugraha -- HD Deve Gowda from 1994-1996, SM Krishna from 1999-2004, Dharam Singh from 2004-2005, HD Kumaraswamy from 2006-2007 and DV Sadananda Gowda in 2011-2012 -- only SM Krishna had completed his five-year tenure as the chief minister. Hence, fearing that 'Anugraha' is cursed, the other chief ministers -- BS Yediyurappa, Jagadish Shettar, Siddaramaiah and DV Sadananda Gowda -- either chose 'Cauvery' or the Race Course residence road during their tenure. Yediyurappa, who resigned last month, continues to stay at Cauvery and he can continue to stay there for six months as per the law.
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On the other hand, Lokayukta Justice Vishwanath Shetty has been allotted 'Anugraha' as none of the earlier chief ministers were willing to stay there.
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CM Bommai looking forward to shift to CS residence
The government residence between the Balabrui Guesthouse and the Art Gallery is reserved for the Chief Secretary to the government. The bungalow is currently occupied by Chief Secretary Ravikumar. Though, it is smaller than Anugraha, Bommai has expressed interest in shifting over to this building as it is located close to the Vidhana Soudha, it is said.
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