Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Aug 27: Within minutes since portfolio allocation for ministers was announced, smoke of discontent began to smoulder within the BJP. C T Ravi, who is apparently angry over the fact that he has been given tourism, Kannada and culture portfolios, which he feels are relatively less important, said that he would resign from the ministry. Reportedly, Ravi was eying higher education department or some other department which are considered to be important.
Ravi has the experience of having functioned as minister in the BJP government earlier. He is expected to tender his resignation letter to chief minister, B S Yediyurappa, at the latter's residence on Tuesday morning. It is gathered that he has already returned the car allotted to him in the capacity of minister.
Internal discontent has also arisen in the state BJP over posts of deputy chief minister. There had been opposition to the proposal to make Laxman Savadi and Ashwath Narayan the deputy chief ministers. It is said that the national leaders went ahead with their choice of persons for these posts, overlooking the opinions aired by the state leaders of the party.
Some have expressed themselves against overlooking people who had earlier functioned as chief minister and deputy chief minister, and also for neglecting people backed with the experience of handling important portfolios in the past. Many feel that the party high command has overlooked seniors in the name of strengthening the party organization and nursing future leaders.
After the cabinet meeting on Monday, several ministers expressed their displeasure over these things to the chief minister. It is said that they gave vent to their fear that the senior legislators will lose respect as compared to juniors who will be ruling above the seniors.
It is said that Yediyurappa had planned to take up second phase of ministry expansion soon to quell the dissidence as above, but the national leaders of the party have not agreed to his suggestion. It is said that Yediyurappa had planned to induct Umesh Katti, a prominent leader from Belagavi, and a couple of others into the ministry in a bid to cool down the rebellion but the party leadership has not agreed to his suggestion. Therefore, cabinet expansion will not be held in near future, sources stated.