Amid the hullaballoo over the Cauvery dispute, a group of Karnataka MLAs and MPs have threatened to resign in protest against the government inaction.
Many leaders from both Congress and JD(S), especially from Mandya that is the epicentre of the Cauvery water crisis and protests, are planning to resign if the cabinet decision is unfavourable to the state's farmers, said a source close to JD(S) party.
This comes after the latest order from the apex court asking the state to release 6,000 cusecs of water every day from September 21 to 28.
However, this is not the first time legislators are rising in protest. Even in 2012, over five JDS leavers submitted their resignation over the same issue. However, this was only submitted to the party chiefs and not the Speaker of the Assembly.
Puttaraju MP from Mandya district submitted his letter of resignation to the Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan through the district collector.
“…Hence, herewith I am submitting my resignation to my member of Parliament post from Mandya constituency in the interest of farmers of Cauvery Basin,” he said in his letter dated September 20.
Sources told The News Minute that G Madegowda, who heads the Cauvery Welfare Committee, has asked Mandya legislators of all parties they belong to, to resign in solidarity with the farmers.
JD(S) MLAs DC Thammanna (Maddur) and Srinivas (Mandya), ex-MLA Annadani, and Congress leader and former minister Ambareesh are also likely to join the legislators’ protest in Mandya on Wednesday.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah is under pressure to reject the apex court’s latest order to release water. Even leaders in the Opposition such as KS Eshwarappa have extended their support to the Chief Minister, urging him to reject the order. Speaking to the media, Eshwarappa said that he was even ready to go to jail. A Jail Bharo andolan is being planned by farmers’ groups in Mandya.