Bangalore: 'Operation Kamala' Effect? - Bhadravathi Congress MLA Resigns

Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Dec 13: In a strange incident, a Congress MLA handed over his resignation letter from his membership of the legislative assembly on Monday December 12, even as the session was going on. Bhadravati MLA, B K Sangamesh, was in the centre stage of this unexpected drama.

Sangamesh was apparently disturbed by the fact that he was cold-shouldered by the party leaders, when he raised the topic of humiliation and insult he suffered at the hands of government officials of his constituency. The resignation given by him is currently in opposition leader, Siddaramiah’s hands.

Taken aback by this sudden turn of events, Siddaramaiah tried to assuage the feelings of Sangamesh and calm him down. Sangamesh walked out in a huff, refusing to yield to the efforts to appease him. Sangamesh had tried in vain, on the opening day of the session i.e. December 5, to bring pressure on the government to take action against the police and revenue officials in his constituency, who he said, have hoisted a false case against him. His efforts had not received any enthusiastic response from his own party leaders.

On Friday last, Shivalinge Gowda from the JDS, who raised the issue of insult heaped on him by the tahsildar of his constituency, had succeeded in getting an assurance from the Chief Minister (CM) to suspend the official immediately. Gowda had been accompanied by his party men when he ventured into the well of the house and staged a dharna there.

This had visibly upset Sangamesh. He was frustrated at the lack of support from his party legislators for his cause. He wrote his resignation letter on the spot, and was about to hand it over to the speaker, when Congress leaders, M Krishnappa and D K Shivakumar, went up to him and tried to convince him not to do so. Sangamesh handed over the resignation letter to Krishnappa before storming out of the house in a huff.

Speaking to media persons later, Sangamesh accused the sub-inspector and tahsildar of Bhadravathi of not giving any importance to his words. He said he was frustrated at his own failure at getting them suspended, and accused his party leaders of showing non-cooperative attitude in this issue. He asked the journalists not to link his resignation to the coming council bypoll. Sangamesh is facing a case of using derogatory words against police inspector on duty, and has been granted bail by JMFC Court in Bhadravathi.

This development has come at a crucial juncture when the CM is testing his clout in the election being held to fill a vacant seat in the legislative council on December 22. Congress has fielded its candidate, and JDS has kept its moves a secret. Rebel BJP leader and former minister, B Sriramulu, who has got elected in the bypoll as an MLA, has the potential to turn the tables against the CM. As the numbers at present are tilting towards BJP delicately, any revolt from a few members can rock its boat. As such, BJP, it is said, is clandestinely trying to woo some of the opposition legislators to its side, as its prestige is at stake and as it wants to win this election at any cost. There are rumours that Sangamesh has taken the opportunity to revolt against the party, having been lured by the said operation, being executed by former Chief Minister, B S Yeddyurappa.

On Monday, BJP MLA, Shankaralinge Gowda, tried to commit suicide by tightening a towel he was holding, around his neck in the assembly session. This was in protest against the government’s negligence towards solving the problem of sand shortage, he said. It is not clear as to whether he was trying to pressurize the government to meet his long-pending demand to accommodate in the state cabinet, by encashing the opportunity coming his way in the form of council bypoll.