Two more Congress MLAs put govt. in a corner

In more embarrassment for the Congress government in the State, two more party MLAs on Monday vented their ire in public over the “slow paced” development and also about the alleged cash-for-house scam, an allegation made earlier by the Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman B.R. Patil, who is also MLA for Aland.

While Sagar legislator Belur Gopalakrishna sought the resignation of Housing Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan in connection with the alleged scam in the allotment of houses, North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) chairman and Kagwad legislator Bharamagouda (Raju) Kage threatened to resign over the slow-paced development.

Mr. Kage said that he would meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the next few days to tender his resignation. Mr. Gopalakrishna said that the Minister should resign and face an inquiry into the allegations.

The Chief Minister, who was in Raichur ahead of his Delhi visit, said that he would call the legislators for a meeting to discuss the issue while Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar told presspersons in Bengaluru that the Chief Minister and the Housing Minister would respond to the allegations.

Multiple sources in the party said that though it was early to assess if other legislators affected by the lack of funds for development would also air their views, it is being seen as a pressure tactic either to secure more funds or present themselves as candidates for a Cabinet berth as and when there would be a reshuffle.