Former Minister Srinivas Prasad’s resignation accepted; testing time for Siddaramaiah

Speaker of legislative assembly KB Koliwad accepted the resignation of senior Congress leader V Srinivas Prasad, who put in his papers over being “unceremoniously” dropped from the cabinet.
Senior Congress leader V Srinivas Prasad
Senior Congress leader V Srinivas Prasad

BENGALURU:  Speaker of legislative assembly KB Koliwad on Thursday accepted the resignation of senior Congress leader V Srinivas Prasad, who put in his papers over being “unceremoniously” dropped from the cabinet. The decision, three days after Prasad submitted his resignation, has put to rest speculations of the Speaker keeping the resignation in limbo to avoid a bypoll.

Koliwad announced his decision on Thursday after consulting Advocate General Madhusudhan R Naik. “I had to get myself convinced, in accordance with article 190(3)(b) of the Constitution, that Prasad’s resignation was voluntary and not under any pressure or influence.  I have taken the decision to accept the resignation after speaking to Prasad again after he submitted the resignation. I will not allow anyone to misuse the office of the Speaker. I have taken the decision in just three days,” Koliwad said hitting back indirectly at JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy who had criticised the delay in accepting the resignation.

“Nobody, including the Chief Minister, can influence the office of the Speaker. I have never succumbed to pressure from any quarter in my political life,” Koliwad asserted.

Prasad, who had hinted that he would soon resign from the party membership too, continued to play his cards close to the chest. “I will decide on my future course of action after discussing with my well-wishers and supporters,” he reiterated.

Meanwhile BJP and JD(S) have intensified their efforts to get Prasad on board. However Prasad is likely to contest the bypoll, whenever it is held, as an independent candidate, with the support of both the opposition parties. He has vowed to inflict heavy political damage to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who dumped Prasad from the ministry four months ago and inducted Priyank Kharge under the Dalit quota in the ministry.

Anticipating the dent Prasad could make in the bypoll with support from the united opposition, preparations are already on in the ruling Congress camp to face challenge. A convention of Congress workers has been organised on October 23 in Nanjangud. Mysuru district in-charge minister Dr HC Mahadevappa, who is also a Dalit, has been given the responsibility to energise the party rank and file in the district.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is expected to announce a slew of development works for Nanjangud at the October 23 rally, which could effectively turn out to be the launch of Congress’s bypoll campaign.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com