The issue of JDS leaders, especially minister and chief minister Kumaraswamy’s brother HD Revanna's interference in the affairs of the Congress party and his loose talks have damaged the JDS. Now 13 MLAs from both JDS and Congress have tendered their resignations. It has come as a rude shock to the touring Karnataka chief minister.
Bengaluru: With 13 MLAs from the coalition government in Karnataka resigning, the blame squarely sits on HD Revanna, minister for Public Works Department, who was reportedly interfering in the affairs of every Congress and every minister.
Earlier on Saturday (July 6), Water Resources minister DK Shivakumar lashed out at Revanna and had apparently dashed off a letter to CM asking him to control his brother (Revanna) from interfering. Revanna has transferred many officials from DK Shivakumar's department.
Now sources say, Revanna was also interfering in the affairs of the troika of Bengaluru leaders, BDA Chairman ST Somashekhar, Byrathi Basavaraj, Karnataka Soaps and Detergent Limited Chairman, Munirathna Naidu, MLA RR Nagar, who are rather referred to as ‘SBM’.
According to sources, JD(S) leaders had made Congress look subservient before them and despite several representations to HD Kumaraswamy, nothing seems to have worked. "This is one major factor. Other than this, leaders like minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan and other minnows have been given preference over stalwarts like Ramalinga Reddy, HK Patil, Roshan Baig and others. The leaders in unison decided to resign." said a source from Congress
While Congress supporting the government hopes that the disgruntled men will come back to them, Hirekerur MLA BC Patil who was upset as Siddaramaiah did not bat for him to accommodate him in the cabinet, said, "There is no question of reversing the decision. I am off to Mumbai with like-minded MLAs." When asked about any possibility of joining BJP he said, "Let's wait and watch."
The JD(S) camp refused to comment.
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