Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jun 30: Feeling slighted at having been dropped from the state ministry, actor-turned-politician, Ambareesh, has been nursing a grouse against the chief minister. This was evident by the fact that when All India Congress Committee secretary, Dr Chella Kumar, met him on Wednesday and tried to convince him to join the ministry, he plainly refused to oblige. He said he does not want any post, but stuck to his demand for the removal of chief minister, Siddaramaiah, it is gathered.

The party had dropped both Vokkaliga leaders, Ambaresh and Kimmane Ratnakar, during the reorganization of the state ministry. It is said that the chief minister had planned to give ministerial berths to M Krishnappa or Sudhakar from Vokkaliga community to make sure that the community does not feel let down. At the last minute, no one from among the two could be sworn in. Therefore, to assuage the feelings of the community, the chief minister had, at the instance of veteran party leaders, planned to take Ambareesh back into the ministry, and also obtained concurrence of party high command, it is said. The room allotted to Ambareesh in the second floor of Vidhan Soudha was retained for the purpose without allotting it to anyone else.

Chella Kumar approached Ambareesh as a representative of the central leadership of Congress and conveyed to him the party's request to join the ministry. Ambareesh rejected the offer forthwith, sources said.