Bangalore: Sidelined and Humiliated, Somanna Gives up Hassan District

Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Feb 21: Feeling ignored, sidelined, and cornered, V Somanna, in-charge minister for Hassan district, has pledged not to set foot in this district in the capacity of the district in-charge minister again. It is learnt he has already given his intention in writing to chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda.

It is learnt that Somanna is angry that his political adversaries have been gaining an upper hand in all matters, and that his colleagues in the ministry have been working against him, and blocking development works proposed by him. He is sore that his opinion was not given any credence when shifting the old bus stand of Hassan to its present spot. Transport minister, R Ashok, had taken the unilateral decision to shift the bus stand to near Channapatna in the town, overlooking Somanna’s opinion, and without taking care to consult the latter.

Even as Somanna was nursing this grouse, he felt further heat when his mentor B S Yedddyurappa, climbed down from chief ministership. Somanna has made his anger known about the officials in the district, who he claims, have been obeying the diktats of his former political friend-turned-foe and JD(S) strongman, H D Revanna, instead of him. Repeated instructions to the district-level officials are not getting any favourable response, Somanna, who also was in JD(S) in the past, rues.

Another reason for his frustration is the sudden and shocking transfer of Hassan deputy commissioner, Dr Jagadish, without consulting him. Somanna was even reluctant to take part in the Republic Day parade this year at Hassan because of these developments. Now he claims that some district level BJP leaders are cold-shouldering him, and that some of them are plotting against him.

Hassan has seen several in-charge ministers since BJP came to power in 2008. Aravind Limbavali, B N Bachche Gowda, Renukacharya and Somanna have functioned as in-charge ministers of this district, the home district of JD(S) leaders, H D Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy, and Revanna, so far.