Ministers willing to step down to save government

Ministers willing to step down to save government

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, October 7: B. Sriramulu, the health and family welfare minister, a confidante of the mining lords of Bellary, is willing to give up his ministerial post in order to give the troublemakers in the party a chance to rule and thereby save the first BJP-led state government in south India. The chief minister, while addressing reporters, hinted that 3 – 4 ministers had agreed to voluntarily give up their posts.

One of the ministers who have agreed to quit is Ports Minister Krishna J. Palemar; and rumours are flying around that Higher Education Minister Dr. V. S. Acharya has expressed his willingness to step down from his position. Forest Minister C. H. Vijayashankar, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S. Suresh Kumar, S. A. Ravindranath, as well as V. Somanna have informed the CM that they are willing to step down.

A reliable source, however, has informed the media that these are just offers and that nothing is definite as yet. Even if the CM finally requests some of his colleagues to quit so that the dissidents can be accommodated, there is no question of depriving the coastal region of ministerial representation, added the source.

Further explaining the matter, the source said that Fisheries Minister Anand Asnotikar has already joined the dissident’s camp and has told the governor that he will quit. If Asnotikar quits, Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri, the secondary and primary education minister, will be the only ministerial representative from Uttara Kannada. The source added that the CM will never allow Palemar, who represents DK, and Dr. Acharya, who represents Udupi, to quit because this will deprive DK and Udupi of ministerial representation.

Meanwhile, the governor has requested the CM to prove his majority in Assembly by 5 p.m. on Oct 12.