In a shock transfer, veteran Karnataka politician B R Patil has resigned as political advisor to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, bringing to the fore as soon as once more the churning within the state Congress and the inner energy dynamics.
The resignation by Patil, thought of a staunch Siddaramaiah loyalist, comes at a time when an influence battle is brewing within the Congress, performed out over dinner conferences held by pro-Siddaramaiah leaders final month. On the coronary heart of the tussle is a supposed power-sharing pact — the components of rotational chief ministership — the existence of which Siddaramaiah has repeatedly denied.
Sources within the Karnataka Congress, nonetheless, mentioned Patil’s resignation was not linked to the Siddaramaiah-D Ok Shivakumar tussle. The four-time MLA from Aland in Kalaburagi district was quite mentioned to have been upset in regards to the lack of significance given to him by the CM. Patil is from the Kalaburagi area the place Shivakumar has little sway. It’s the stronghold of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Patil is claimed to be not on good phrases with Kharge’s son and state minister Priyank Kharge.
“I’ll discuss to him. The resignation letter got here from Bengaluru, I didn’t learn it. I’ll name him up,” Siddaramaiah advised reporters in Mysuru on Saturday.
Priyank holds appreciable affect in Kalaburagi and Patil had been feeling sidelined regardless of his proximity to the CM, sources mentioned. Patil was tipped to get a ministerial berth when the social gathering got here to energy in 2023 however the slots went to Priyank and one other MLA from the district, Sharan Prakash Patil.
Siddaramaiah later appointed him as his political advisor to placate him. Sources mentioned he was sad about his restricted position in governance. Siddaramaiah additionally hardly ever concerned him in political confabulations and he didn’t safe developmental initiatives in his constituency due to lack of funds.
Patil’s resignation, sources mentioned, displays the muddled state of Karnataka Congress politics. Sources mentioned Patil despatched his resignation on Friday citing some “issues”. Get together leaders mentioned he additionally didn’t agree with a number of the authorities’s coverage choices.
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Patil sat on a dharna in entrance of the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Karnataka Meeting premises final month to demand the implementation of a regulation guaranteeing minimal assist worth for farmers. Patil advised reporters in Kalaburagi on Sunday that although he had determined to resign earlier, he delayed his determination as he awaited the passage of the Karnataka Legislature (Prevention of Disqualification) Act. The regulation goals to guard advisors to the CM and the Deputy CM from being disqualified as MLAs.
“I used to be relieved after the Governor gave assent to the Invoice. I’m free to resign,” Patil mentioned, including that he wouldn’t withdraw his resignation.
The MLA mentioned he was “resigning resulting from some issues” that he had written intimately within the letter to the CM. On his earlier complaints about improvement works, Patil mentioned he had raised the difficulty throughout a Congress Legislature Get together assembly. “But, nothing occurred. That’s the reason I’ve resigned,” he added.
In July 2023, weeks after the Congress authorities was shaped, Patil wrote to Siddaramaiah, complaining in regards to the unfair remedy of MLAs by some ministers. The letter triggered a row and uncovered the disappointment of senior legislators who didn’t make it to the Council of Ministers.
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To pacify the seniors, three of them — Patil, Basavaraj Rayareddy, and R S Deshpande — had been appointed to key posts with Cupboard rating. Rayareddy was made financial advisor, whereas Deshpande was appointed chairperson of the Administrative Reforms Fee.
— With ENS Bengaluru inputs
