BENGALURU: A BJP delegation, led by Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka and state party president BY Vijayendra, met Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Monday and sought his intervention to get Planning and Statistics B Nagendra removed from the cabinet.
After the Assembly was adjourned sine die, BJP leaders, along with senior JDS leader and MLA HD Revanna, marched from Vidhana Soudha to Lok Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to the governor.
In the memorandum, Ashoka urged Gehlot to direct Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to withdraw Nagendra’s appointment, citing the ongoing criminal proceedings in the alleged Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation scam.
Ashoka pointed out that Nagendra had resigned as minister in the previous Siddaramaiah government over the same allegations. The circumstances have not changed, as there has been no acquittal, exoneration or closure in the case. The investigation has progressed and chargesheets filed, he added.
Questioning the constitutional propriety of re-inducting Nagendra while criminal proceedings are pending, Ashoka urged the governor to prevail upon the CM to reconsider his decision to continue with Nagendra as minister.
Vijayendra, accusing the government of protecting Nagendra, alleged that it has “fled through the back door” to avoid facing the Opposition.
BJP plans more protests
BJP sources said the party is preparing a larger campaign to take the Nagendra issue to its “logical conclusion”. The party is considering a padayatra through ST-dominated regions of Karnataka to highlight the alleged scam. Sources said the BJP central leadership has issued directions to the state unit on the next course. The party is expected to finalise a strategy soon, they added.