Bengaluru, Aug 4 (PTI) Discontent within the ruling Congress in Karnataka showed no signs of easing on Tuesday, a day after Chief Minister D K Shivakumar expanded his cabinet, with many legislators, who had aspired for ministerial berths, openly expressing their displeasure over being left out.
Supporters of legislators continued to stage protests on Tuesday across the state, blocking roads, burning tyres, and calling for local bandhs to protest the exclusion of their leaders from the ministry.
With the long-awaited cabinet expansion finally materialising, it caused disgruntlement among the ruling Congress legislators, with a couple of ministerial aspirants who did not get a berth offering to resign. In fact, the MLA from Indi, Yashavantarayagouda V Patil submitted his resignation from his legislative post on Monday.
Expressing deep disappointment, Sagara MLA Belur Gopalakrishna said he had planned to resign as MLA and that he would take a final decision after talking to his supporters and wellwishers.
Responding to reports of more Congress MLAs contemplating resigning, CM Shivakumar issued a stern warning, saying the party is important. “if anyone resigns, the letter will be accepted within a few minutes.” Also urging the disgruntled legislators to be patient and wait for their opportunity, he said posts in state-run boards and corporations will be filled up soon.
However, state Congress President B K Hariprasad said that if anyone in the party comes to him with a resignation, he would try to convince them.
“CM is in the government. If anyone in the government resigns he will accept. If anyone in the party comes to me with resignation, I will try to conceive and send them back,” he said.
Meanwhile, expressing his disappointment, Congress’ Gubbi MLA S R Srinivas said he will be resigning from Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) chairmanship.
“In politics, it’s difficult for an ordinary farmer’s son like me to rise. You need godfathers, or you must make money illegally or resort to dirty tricks; otherwise, it’s difficult to succeed. Once again, that has been proved,” he told reporters in Tumakuru.
Senior MLAs and former Minister T B Jayachandra and Dinesh Gundu Rao too expressed unhappiness stating that they have not been able to understand the reason why they were not considered.
Jayachandra, who has been appointed as pro-tem speaker until the new speaker is elected, said he is considering whether to accept the responsibility.
In Bengaluru, supporters of Rao, Govindraj Nagar MLA Priya Krishna and Vijayanagar MLA M Krishnappa staged protests in front of the KPCC office here and before party chief Hariprasad.
Shantinagar MLA N A Haris’s supporters too staged a protest in the city.
Supporters of Honnali MLA Shanthana Gowda held a protest by burning tyres on the road.
Upset over Bagepalli MLA Subbareddy being left out, his supporters have called for bandh in Bagepalli, Chelur, and Gudibande on Wednesday.
Followers of Bangarpete MLA Narayanaswamy have called for a Bangarpete bandh on August 6.
Some Congress MLAs of Kolar and Chikkaballapura districts met on Tuesday and expressed anguish about no legislator from their districts being made ministers. They said they will meet the party high command and try to know the reason. They warned it will be difficult for them to build and organise the party.
Narayanaswamy who was part of this meeting said, several like minded MLAs, who were capable and did not get an opportunity as ministers, will meet soon and decide on what to do together.
In Gadag, supporters of senior MLA and former Minister H K Patil staged a protest, angered by his not being inducted into the cabinet. Also some Congress members of Gadag Betageri City Municipal Council have submitted their resignations, according to sources.
Supporters of Koppal MLA Raghavendra Hitnal too staged protests and resigned from party positions.
Former Minister and Chintamani MLA M C Sudhakar claimed that he was not made a minister due to his closeness with Siddaramaiah.
Amid all this, intense speculation exists within party circles that former CM Siddaramaiah is unhappy because his recommendations were reportedly not considered by the high command. This includes Byadgi MLA Basavaraj Shivannanavar, a Kuruba not being inducted into the cabinet, while the name of MLC from the same community — Gayathri Shanthegowda, who was not sworn-in at the last minute– making it to the list sent by AICC.
Denying a cabinet berth to MLC Umashree and instead naming her as nominee for the post of Deputy Chairperson of the Legislative Council, has also reportedly upset him.
Siddaramaiah’s absence at the swearing-in ceremony of new Ministers on Monday, had fueled the speculations. However, both his son, Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah and CM Shivakumar have rejected that the former CM is miffed, while maintaining that he did not attend the swearing-in as it was his birthday.
Two months after assuming charge as the Chief Minister, Shivakumar on Monday expanded his Cabinet by inducting 19 ministers.
The sanctioned strength of Karnataka’s ministry is 34, including the CM. Following Monday’s expansion it now has one vacant berth. PTI KSU ROH
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