Upset over a section of ministers spreading rumours about his resignation, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday reportedly told his Cabinet colleagues that he “will not resign as under any circumstance” and it is better to stop spreading “confusion” among the media and the public.
Siddarmaiah’s anger stems after a section of Dalit ministers - Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara, Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi and Social Welfare Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa - often meeting on the pretext of breakfast, lunch or dinner after alleged MUDA site allotment scam came to light two months ago.
It was also apparent that Siddaramaiah was upset with former speaker K B Koliwad’s outbursts against him after the poll debacle in Hindi heartland Haryana.
A source told DH that Siddaramaiah reportedly also underlined that leaders should stop giving the wrong impression to the media and the public through their actions as well as “prompting” other leaders to speak against him in the media.
He also stated that he was aware that some leaders were taking advantage of the situation and prompting other leaders to speak against him in the media, which is also creating confusion.
“Let me be very clear in this Cabinet meeting. I am not going to resign under any circumstance. Stop giving misleading signals either to the media or public through your actions and statements,” he reportedly told his Cabinet colleagues angrily.
Following this, the entire Cabinet expressed solidarity with him and assured him that all ministers would stand behind him.
Stumped by the BJP’s demand for early implementation of sub-classification of Scheduled Castes in the state, the Cabinet decided that the party must come out with a well-thought-out strategy to counter the BJP’s demand.
“We need to discuss with the party high command and take necessary steps to come out with a strategy to counter the BJP,” the source said.
The meeting also discussed the tabling of the socio-economic education survey report, popularly known as the caste censusreport in the next meeting and remained divided on caste lines. A section of ministers, especially belonging to Linagayats and Vokkaligas, reportedly asked the chief minister not to take a hurried decision to implement the cast census report.
They said its implementation could lead to further division of castes while ministers belonging to OBC and Dalits argued in its favour and countered it saying that ‘there is nothing left to be divided further’. “All castes know their strengths and are aware of their rights. So, there is no harm in implementing it,” the source said.