Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jun 21: The rebellion by dropped ministers, who are not only infuriated by the hurt ego because of the tag of inefficiency attached to them, and also egged on by leaders of the communities to which they belong, has been turning for the worse. There has been an effort by about 20 legislator led by Srinivas Prasad and Ambareesh to challenge the chief minister by forming a formidable group of dissatisfied Congressmen.

Sources say that these dropped ministers and those who aspired to become ministers but failed to become so will be meeting within a couple of days to discuss ways and means to tackle the situation. There have been protests at various places by their supporters and leaders of their respective communities, which are also exerting pressure on these leaders to act. At the same time, on behalf of Siddaramaiah, efforts are on to convince the angry leaders about the compulsions for dropping them through legislators loyal to the chief minister like Byrathi Basavaraju and minister, Mahadevappa.

Actor-turned-politician, Ambareesh, is scheduled to address a press conference here on Tuesday June 21. In all likelihood, he may give a tongue-lashing to the government and the chief minister. Although he had tendered his resignation to his MLA's post, through one of his employees, deputy speaker of the assembly, N H Shivashankara Reddy, refused to accept it, as rules stipulate that resignation letter should be handed over personally by the concerned.

The Vokkaliga community is disgruntled over dropping of two ministers from the community, Ambareeh and Kimmane Ratnakar. No Vokkaliga has been given ministerial berth in their places.

As per information, JDS and BJP have extended invitations to both Ambareesh and Srinivas Prasad to join them. There are also rumours that Bahujan Samaj Party has also been trying to take Srinivas Prasad, a dalit, into its fold. Following up Yeddyurappa's telephonic conversation with Prasad, union minister, G M Siddeshwar, MP, Pratap Simha, and former minister, S A Ramdas, met Srinivas Prasad on Monday evening and held discussions. BJP district president, Kote Shivanna, and Yeddyurappa's confidante, Mallikarjunappa, met Prasad separately and held discussions.

JDS supremo, Deve Gowda, and state president, H D Kumaraswamy, had already contacted Prasad over phone to console him. On Monday morning, JDS MLAs, Sa Ra Mahesh and S Chikkamadu, met Prasad and held discussions for over 30 minutes. BSP state president, N Mahesh too visited Prasad at his residence and invited him to join his party. It is said that JDS even offered to make him JDS leader.