Karnataka: Reshuffle over, but the revolt refuses to die

BENGALURU: The Congress witnessed an upsurge in dissent a day after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s rejig of his ministry with those who did not make it and those who were shown the door targeting top leaders including veterans like M Mallikarjun Kharge.

Topping the list of critics of Mr Siddaramaiah were Mr V Srinivas Prasad and Qamarul Islam with the former describing the CM as “mentally sick” and the latter slamming Mr Kharge for agreeing to the decision to drop two ministers from his home district, Kalaburagi, to make way for his son Priyank Kharge. Both were livid that these two leaders did not show basic courtesy of informing them in advance about changes in the cabinet.

Meanwhile, a number of aspirants including acting Speaker N.H. Shivashankar Reddy, former minister Shivamurthy Naik and Anil Lad,  MLA spoke up against Mr Siddaramaiah.

Sources said Mr Siddaramaiah is trying to placate these legislators by assuring them posts in the state-owned boards and corporations.

Ambareesh ‘quits’ as MLA
Outgoing housing minister M.H. Ambareesh is in no mood to exit without creating a fuss and has called a press conference on Tuesday to announce his plans. Sources said he would be submitting his resignation from the Assembly to the Speaker and had consulted his supporters in Mandya. On Monday, two supporters of the actor-politician met acting Speaker Shivashankar Reddy to hand over the ‘resignation letter’ but Reddy insisted that Ambareesh hand it over himself.

Gundurao new working president
Those who were shocked when Dinesh Gundu Rao was dropped from the Cabinet, have reason to smile as the Gandhinagar MLA has been elevated as KPCC working president. This could however work to the detriment of energy minister D K Shivakumar, who may not get the job of KPCC president, something he has been lobbying for, as both politicians are from south Karnataka. Former IT & BT minister S.R. Patil could well be the new PCC president.