Coalition offers Karnataka rebel MLAs ministerial posts but rebels refuse: Here's why

The rebel leaders, who are currently cooped up at Sofitel Hotel in Mumbai, have said that they will not be withdrawing their resignations under any circumstances.
Coalition offers Karnataka rebel MLAs ministerial posts but rebels refuse: Here's why
Coalition offers Karnataka rebel MLAs ministerial posts but rebels refuse: Here's why
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On Sunday, Congress and JD(S) leaders huddled up to discuss offering ministerial berths to the rebels, but, the rebel leaders, who are currently cooped up at Sofitel Hotel in Mumbai, have said that they will not be withdrawing their resignations under any circumstances. 

The rebels say they are not hoping to get ministerial berths and neither are they demanding that the Chief Minister be replaced. So why are the leaders rebelling?

Congress insiders say that former Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy and his posse of MLAs from Bengaluru Urban district, including ST Somashekar, Byrathi Basavarj and Gopalaiah are fighting the Deputy CM and Bengaluru Development Minister Dr G Parameshwara and that the resignations were a move in a game of one-upmanship, sources say. 

Ramalinga Reddy and the three other MLAs from Bengaluru are believed to have been upset with Parameshwara ever since he became the Bengaluru Development Minister. "Parameshwara is not allowing Bengaluru Mayor Gangambike a free reign in the BBMP. Ramalinga Reddy is one of the most important leaders who controlled the Congress corporators in Bengaluru. Gangambike is his proxy and Parameshwara's decision to change the garbage contracts and curtailing the Mayor's discretionary funds from Rs 150 crore to Rs 40 crore did not sit well with Reddy," a Congress leader said. 

Another reason why the MLAs are unhappy is the state government's recent decision on delimitation of BBMP wards. The draft delimitation documents are ready and are awaiting cabinet approval. "If the delimitation of wards happens, the MLAs will lose out on their key constituents in their respective Assembly segments," the source said. 

Meanwhile, MLA from Ballari, Anand Singh, is upset with the cabinet's decision to grant the land to JWS Steel in Ballari. Congress sources say that Anand Singh wanted the land to be given to another bidder and not JWS. "If this issue is resolved, then he may be pacified," the source added. 

Ramesh Jarkiholi's long-standing rivalry with Water Resource Minister DK Shivakumar due to his alleged interference in the workings of the district cooperative banks in Belagavi had caused him to rebel.

"If DK Shivakumar promises to curtail Jarkiholi's rival, Lakshmi Hebbalkar's powers in Belagavi, things will go back to normal," the source added. 

Other Congress rebels, insiders say are unhappy with the allocation of funds for their respective districts, which is resulting in resentment and anti-incumbency from their electorate. Besides, the rebel leaders also see CM Kumaraswamy's village stay programme as a way of encroaching into their home constituencies and a ploy to establish bases of the JD(S) in these districts. 

"The village stay programme is synonymous to Kumaraswamy. Congress leaders are not getting credit for it. This they feel is a way to lure their loyal voters away from them," the source added. 

Meanwhile, the two JD(S) leaders AH Vishwanath and Narayana Gowda are miffed over the interference of Deve Gowda's family members in their duties, reports TOI. Narayana Gowda on Sunday openly said that Deve Gowda's daughter was interfering and not allowing him to carry out his duties to his constituents. Vishwanath had stated that he and the rebels were unhappy with the way Chief Minister Kumaraswamy was operating the coalition government.

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