Rift in ranks: MH Ambareesh rants in his letter to CM Siddaramaiah

BELAGAVI: Irked on being ignored during selection of party men for key posts in the government and the district unit of Congress in his home turf, Mandya, housing minister M. H. Ambareesh on Wednesday shot off a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah alleging that he was not consulted on such issues during the last two years.

In his letter written to Mr Siddaramaiah, Mr Ambareesh stated: “We (the Chief Minister and himself) had arrived at an agreement sometime ago that whenever appointments are to be made to any institution in the district, it will be done with due consultations with me (district in-charge minister). Contrary to your promise, several appointments have been made in Mandya district, without consultation, which has disappointed me.”

Sources close to Mr Ambreesh said the minister was upset as Mr Siddaramaiah had been turning down every suggestion made by him on matters related to Mandya district.

“Even the recent appointments made by the state government to Mandya district co-operative bank and few other appointments have gone to those who belong to the anti-Ambi camp in Mandya, which has hurt him.

“Therefore, the minister shot off this letter while he was still in Belagavi,” sources added.

Minister Mr Ambareesh and district unit president M S Atmanandanda have been at loggerheads since the Assembly polls held in May 2013, and differences between leaders belonging to these two camps have surfaced quite frequently.