Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jan 27: In a sudden move, state minister for excise Satish Jarkiholi on Tuesday January 27 resigned from the cabinet.

Jarkiholi is learnt to have faxed his resignation to chief minister Siddaramaiah, Legislative Assembly secretariat and to Congress leaders.

Sources said that Jarkiholi resigned due to differences with Siddaramaiah, though the two are known to be close associates since their JD(S) days. A teetotaler, Jarkiholi had reportedly been unhappy with the excise portfolio and had time and again requested Siddaramaiah to give him the sports and youth affairs portfolio which is currently with Abhaychandra Jain.

However, Jarkiholi denied being discontent either with the CM or with his portfolio, and said that he was resigning as he wanted to devote more time to social work and work for the Congress party. "As a minister, I am not able to devote time to social work or render my services to the party. Also, I do not get sufficient time to participate in programmes that are of my personal interest. Hence I have decided to resign," he said.

He asserted that he would continue to work for the Congress as a party member and stay loyal to Siddaramaiah.

"I have no differences with the chief minister or with any other minister. Siddaramaiah will continue as the CM for the next three years. Nevertheless, I will not take back my resignation," Jarkiholi said.