Bangalore University bifurcation is to favour Mylarappa

The department of higher education is all set to bifurcate the Bangalore University (BU), and the report recommending bifurcation by the higher education council, has already been submitted to the government.

Meanwhile, department sources said that the bifurcation is not necessary in the current situation and the government is doing it to favour one of BU’s influential faculties, BC Mylarappa.

A report submitted by the higher education council had recommended dividing the university into two, as Bangalore University and Bangalore South University.  As per the report, the current BU vice-chancellor (VC) will remain at Bangalore University, while a new VC will be appointed to the newly proposed university.

“Dividing Bangalore University is like match-fixing. This is mainly to favour Mylarappa, who belongs to the BJP, and a strong contender for the vice-chancellor’s post,” said a source reliable to higher education minister VS Acharya.

Mylarappa had tried to become vice-chancellor of BU when the post fell vacant after the resignation of then VC, HA Ranganath. But his application was rejected because of allegations against him about misappropriation of funds, when he was a director of correspondence courses at BU.

“He tried to become VC of Tumkur University also, but the then higher education minister, Aravind Limbavali did not evince interest,” sources said.

According to sources close to Acharya, this time around, it has been decided to appoint Mylarappa as VC of the soon-to-be established Bangalore South University. “Mylarappa is pressurising the government through RSS people. One of the RSS leaders who was also an MLC and academician, is supporting Mylarappa and was involved in preparing the report,” said a source.

Many academicians and faculty, however, feel there is no need to divide BU. “Over 170 under-graduate and 26 BEd colleges are not functioning. When this is the situation, why has the government decided to divide BU,” asked an official.

As per the report submitted by the council, most of the infrastructure, including Jnana Bharati will go to Bangalore South University and Bangalore University is expected to function from Central College.