From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bangalore, Sept 12: Karnataka’s Medical Education Minister Ramachandra Gowda has sent in his resignation letter to Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Saturday night.

The decision of Ramachandra Gowda to put in his papers follows directions from the Chief Minister over the scandal pertaining to alleged irregulartieis and corruption in the recruitment of over 35- non-medical staff in the Government-run medical colleges in Hassan and Mysore.

The Chief Minister, according to informed sources, directed the minister to resign in order to ensure that the scandal does not affect the prospects of the ruling BJP candidates in the two crucial by-elections to Gulbarga south and Kadur assembly constituencies on Monday.

However, it is not known whether the Chief Minister has forwarded the resignation letter sent in by Ramachandra Gowda on Saturday night to Governor Hans Raj Bhardwaj for acceptance before his departure to Shanghai in China to attend the World Economic Forum meeting.

The Governor, who spoke to reporters at the sidelines of a function, has made it clear that he had not received any resignation letter forwarded by the Chief Minister. ``I cannot comment on media reports,” he said.

Meanwhile, BJP State president K S Eshwarappa, has in a statement, publicly welcomed the resignation and described as most timely and appropriate. ``The Chief Minister will take suitable decision,” he said answering a question on whether the resignation should be accepted and at what time.

Home Minister Dr V S Acharya has also confirmed that his senior cabinet colleague and a member of the State Legislative Council has tendered his resignation letter. But Dr Acharya declined to indicate when it will be accepted.

Medical Education Minister Ramacbandra Gowda will be yet another cabinet minister to quit the Yeddyurappa  ministry.