Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Jun 23: On Wednesday, former ministers, Srinivas Prasad and Ambareesh, got in touch with the dissatisfied group of Congress leaders and discussed various issues with them. In the evening, former union minister, C K Jaffer Shariff, met Ambareesh and held discussions with him. Qamarul Islam and some legislators also met Ambareesh at his residence.
In the meanwhile, Rajya Sabha member, Oscar Fernandes, who has taken up the mantle of quelling the rebellion, met Srinivas Prasad and some others, for discussions. Oscar said that he plans to meet the dissatisfied people and try to convince them, adding that Srinivas Prasad has promised to continue to work for the party and not to do anything that harms the Congress. On his part, Prasad said that he has told Oscar that the chief minister's style of functioning is the root cause for all the problems. After meeting Ambareeh, Prasad said that so far, the chief minister has not discussed anything with him, and he too is not inclined to meet him.
Jaffer Shariff condemned Siddaramaiah in strong terms, holding him responsible for the current fiasco, by reorganizing the ministry without consulting others. He said he will keep the party high command apprised of the developments here.
In the meanwhile, chief minister, Siddaramaiah, instructed the ministers to begin working with earnestness. He also has formed a task force to go about the task of pacifying the angry factions within the party which are feeling humiliated after the ministry reorganization.
The dissatisfied party leaders are presently holding one to one discussions. It is gathered that once their number turns sizable, they may consider holding a meeting for discussing all issues and options.
Kalaburagi: Afzalpur MLA, Malikayya Guttedar, to resign on June 25
Daijiworld Media Network - Kalaburagi (SP)
Kalaburagi, Jun 23: Peeved at not being considered for being inducted into the state ministry in spite of his long wait, Afzalpur MLA, Malikayya Guttedar, announced that he would be tendering resignation from his membership of the state assembly on June 25.
To discuss his future course of action, Guttedar had held a meeting of his fans and supporters at Station Ganagapur here on Wednesday June 22. Speaking to press persons thereafter, he said that he has decided to resign. He added that he was disheartened by the fact that he was not considered for being made a minister, although he got elected six times from this constituency.
Malikayya said that all the disgruntled legislators will together tender resignations on Saturday. He clarified that if other unhappy MLAs are unable to make up their minds by then, he would alone submit his resignation letter.
He said that all those who got elected to gram panchayat, taluk and zilla panchayats, gram panchayats, APMC, and nominated members from Afzalpur taluk have resigned from their posts, and that these resignation letters would be delivered to the chief minister on Thursday. He also added that if he fails to secure Congress ticket in the next assembly election, he would support BJP candidate, M Y Patil, and ensure his victory. "I will use my remaining time and energy to oust Congress from Hyderabad Karnataka region and show my power. I will show my clout to both Siddaramaiah and Kharge. I will not become king, but a king maker," he asserted.
He also sarcastically remarked that going by the turn of events, there is no doubt that Siddaramaiah and Kharge will ensure that Congress is decimated in Karnataka. "Before the reorganization, Siddaramaiah had told me that he would make me a minister. People of my constituency too thought that this region will benefit and improve. Kharge lobbied for ministerial berth to his son, Priyank Kharge. At present, Karnataka is the only state where Congress has strong base. Although BJP has pledged to oust Congress from Karnataka, Kharge and Siddaramaiah seem to be doing this job themselves," he commented.