by reciprocal arrangement with Star of Mysore

Bangalore, May 12: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy is learnt to have decided to drop two of his colleagues from the Cabinet following recommendations from the Lok Ayukta.

In a letter to the Chief Minister yesterday, the Lok Ayukta Justice N. Santhosh Hegde recommended to Kumaraswamy to seek the resignations of Agriculture Market Minister Sharanabasappagowda Darshanapur and Youth Services and Sports Minister Alkod Hanumanthappa for their delay in filing affidavits declaring their assets.

Sources close to the Chief Minister said that the Chief Minister held consultations with some legal experts regarding the issue this morning. He would soon meet the party supremo H.D. Deve Gowda and JD(S) State President M.P. Prakash to discuss the issue.

According to sources, some BJP members may raise the issue at the Cabinet meeting on Monday which may embarrass the Chief Minister. In order to avoid such a situation, Kumaraswamy may ask the two Ministers to tender their resignations.

In case the two Ministers refuse to quit saying that they had not committed any offence, the Chief Minister would be forced to drop them.

Meanwhile, talking to media persons at his Home Office Krishna this morning the Chief Minister said that he received the letter of the Lok Ayukta very late yesterday.

He confirmed that he held consultations with legal experts this morning.

"I will take a proper decision at an appropriate time", he said not willing to elaborate.

Sources said that the then Chief Minister J.H. Patel too had dropped some Ministers in a similar situation.

Kumaraswamy may follow the precedent.