Karnataka crisis: 21 Cong ministers resign in bid to woo rebels and save govt

News Network

July 8, 2019

Bengaluru, Jul 8: In a desperate bid to save H D Kumaraswamy-led coalition government in Karnataka, 21 ministers from Congress today tendered their resignation allowing the party leadership to lure rebel legislators back by offering them Cabinet positions. This includes Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara.

The 34-member Cabinet had 22 Congress ministers and 12 of the JD(S). Except for Independent legislator R Shankar who was made a minister under its quota, the rest 21 Congress ministers have resigned.

"They have resigned voluntarily, on their own volition, in the interest of the party," AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka KC Venugopal told reporters. Congress ministers decided to resign en masse at a breakfast meeting Parameshwara hosted.

With this, the Congress leadership wants to reconstitute the Cabinet by offering plum positions to rebel legislators who have resigned.

As many as 13 legislators - ten from the Congress and three JD(S) - have resigned, with most of them camping in a Mumbai hotel. Earlier in the day, Independent legislator H Nagesh resigned as a minister and withdrew his support to the ruling coalition, dealing another blow to the HD Kumaraswamy-led government.

"The party now has full freedom to reconstitute the government," Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah said. "Those ministerial aspirants who have resigned, we are ready for talks. Don't make hasty decisions," he appealed. "While we don't expect all of them to come back, those who are eligible (to become ministers) and those who're unhappy we will accommodate," he added.

"Our ministers have voluntarily resigned to dilute the situation," Siddaramaiah said.

By dangling 21 Cabinet positions before rebel legislators, the Congress hopes to keep the coalition government intact. "This is the 6th attempt by the BJP to destabilize the government. They will fail, just like their past five attempts," Siddaramaiah said. "The coalition government will be saved and it will continue."

Venugopal also said he was "still confident" that the government will continue.

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DK-Udupi local authorities' constituency by-poll: 4 candidates – Cong, BJP, SDPI, Ind – in fray

News Network

October 8,2024

Mangaluru: The by-election to the legislative council from the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi local authorities' constituency will be a contest among four candidates. An independent candidate, Muhammed Riyaz, has withdrawn his nomination on Monday, the last day for withdrawal.

Deputy commissioner Mullai Muhilan MP stated that candidates Kishore BR (BJP), Raju Poojary (Congress), Anwar Sadat S (SDPI), and Dinakar Ullal (independent) will be in the fray.

Polling will be held at 392 booths in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts between 8am and 4pm on Oct 21.

A total of 6,032 voters from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi are eligible to vote. While there will be 234 polling booths in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi will have 158 stations. Gram panchayat members, corporators of the Mangaluru City Corporation, members of city municipal councils, town municipal councils, town panchayats, MLAs, MLCs, and Lok Sabha members are eligible to vote.

Election observer of the Election Commission of India (ECI), Pankaj Kumar Pandey, reviewed the poll preparations at the deputy commissioner's office on Monday. He issued directions to officials regarding arrangements to be made during the election and counting of votes.

The deputy commissioner stated that out of 6,032 voters, 3,127 are women and 2,905 are men. He said the counting of votes will be held at St Aloysius PU College in the city on Oct 24.

Udupi deputy commissioner Vidya Kumari K, city police commissioner Anupam Agrawal, Dakshina Kannada ZP CEO Anandh K, Dakshina Kannada SP Yathish N, Udupi SP Arun K, and additional deputy commissioners Santhosh Kumar G and Mamatha Devi were present.

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