Rebel is his nickname and rebellion is his style: that is what the new Housing Minister Ambareesh appears to believe in.
On Monday, he entered Vidhana Soudha for the first time as a State minister, a far cry from the angry young man of ‘Chakravyuha’. And he quickly homed in on room 262 and 262[A] on the second floor, which used to be the office of former law minister S Suresh Kumar in the previous government.
Apparently, Ambareesh’s cabinet colleague, Vinay Kumar Sorake, who has been allotted room 307 on the third floor of Vidhana Soudha, had come by to inspect the same room. But Ambareesh, who had actually been given a different office in neighbouring Vikasa Soudha, decided that 262 should be his office, and that is that. He sat in the minister’s chair at 262, held a meet with the press. And he directed his staff to ensure that the room is allotted to him, in typical rebel star style.
Ambareesh has been getting his way all through the 2013 elections. He outdid former external affairs minister S M Krishna’s might in Mandya and ensured that his own candidate was fielded in Srirangapatna. His candidate lost, but that does not seem to have dimmed Ambareesh’s bravado.
When Siddaramaiah was allotting portfolios, he was reportedly allotted horticulture. Sources said he sulked till he managed to get a “better” portfolio - housing. He said he will fulfil the promise made in the Congress’ election manifesto to construct more than 12 lakh houses in the next four years for BPL families.
After visiting the KPCC office here on Monday, the actor-turned-politician told reporters that over 3 lakh houses will be built during 2013-14. Houses will be built under Ashraya, Indira Awas, Basava and Ambedkar housing schemes and a fresh survey of homeless families will be conducted, he said adding that there is no shortage of funds.