Intro
Cabinet exclusions triggered resignations, exposing fresh discontent within Karnataka Congress.
CH NEWS
BENGALURU
The expansion of the Karnataka Cabinet on Monday triggered fresh unrest within the ruling Congress after Indi MLA Yashavantarayagouda V. Patil and Sagar MLA Belur Gopalakrishna resigned from the Legislative Assembly, expressing dissatisfaction over being denied ministerial berths.
Both legislators submitted their resignations shortly before the swearing-in ceremony of 20 new ministers at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru, intensifying pressure on the party leadership.
Patil handed over his resignation to Pro-tem Speaker Rudrappa Lamani at Vidhana Soudha. His supporters later staged a protest, alleging that the Congress leadership had treated him unfairly after reportedly assuring him a Cabinet position.
He claimed he had been promised a ministerial berth before the 2023 Assembly elections and was later assured he would be inducted after two-and-a-half years. However, his name was omitted from the final list despite allegedly remaining under consideration until Monday morning.
Patil clarified that he was not quitting the Congress but said the circumstances had compelled him to resign as MLA. He described the decision as an insult to the voters of his constituency and said he would consult his supporters before deciding his next course of action.
Belur Gopalakrishna also resigned from the Assembly, although he did not immediately issue a detailed public statement explaining his decision.
The twin resignations highlighted simmering resentment within the Congress, with several leaders reportedly unhappy over being left out of the Cabinet expansion undertaken nearly two months after D.K. Shivakumar assumed office as Chief Minister.
Quote
“The leadership failed to keep the promise made to me. I had no other option but to resign.”
Yashavantarayagouda V Patil
Cabinet Expansion Fallout
- MLAs resigned: 2
- Resigned legislators: Yashavantarayagouda V. Patil, Belur Gopalakrishna
- Reason: Exclusion from Cabinet
- Resignation submitted to: Pro-tem Speaker Rudrappa Lamani
BOX
The resignations came on the day the Karnataka government expanded the Cabinet by inducting 20 ministers. The development exposed growing dissatisfaction within the Congress, with several legislators reportedly disappointed over missing out on ministerial berths. Political observers said the party leadership could face the challenge of managing internal dissent while maintaining unity after one of the largest Cabinet expansions under Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
