JOIN USChief Minister Jagadish Shettar has dismissed reports that Power Minister Shobha Karandlaje, who is considered close to KJP chief B S Yeddyurappa, will be dropped from the Cabinet.
He has asserted that none of the ministers will be axed, amidst reports that Karandlaje may be sacked for embarrassing the government with her attack on it over increasing incidents of rape in the State.
The minister had even dropped hints that she would resign to take up an active role in the KJP. Shettar had, last month, sacked Yeddyurappa-loyalist B J Puttaswamy from the ministry.
“No minister, including Shobha, will be dropped from the State Cabinet. There is no truth in the reports,” he told reporters in the city on Monday.
Shettar claimed that the issue of sacking Karandlaje did not even come up at the ‘Chintan Baithak’ (brain-storming session) of the party’s State leaders held on January 5.
Karandlaje had written to Shettar, voicing concern over the incidents of rape reported from several places in the State over the last two months and indirectly questioned the government on law and order.
The chief minister had decline to answer at that time but said that a ‘suitable reply’ will be given to her.
Dismissing the threat by Yeddyurappa to topple his ministry so as to prevent him from presenting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government's last budget before the Assembly elections due in May, Shettar said nobody should doubt that he would present the budget as scheduled.
Over the matter of his being proposed by the party as its chief ministerial candidate in the elections, Shettar expressed happiness and promised to work hard for the BJP to retain power.
“My government will complete its tenure. It will not fall. It is only the dream of the opposition parties that my government will collapse," he said.
Speaking to reporters at Siruguppa, he also took a dig at the Congress leaders, saying that the padayatra organised by the party would “improve their health.” He described the padayatra as a election gimmick.
Congress failure
Speaking to reporters at Gajendragad in Ron taluk of Gadag district, he said the Congress had failed to implement irrigation projects, while it was in power. “In comparison, the BJP government had accorded priority for the Krishna, Cauvery and Kalasa-Banduri irrigation projects,” Shettar said.
Addressing a BJP workers’ meeting at Ron, Shettar added that he had faced a trial by fire every day since assuming charge as the chief minister. He also had a word of caution for his adversaries, saying that the people would teach them a lesson if they tried to topple the government.
Minister hints at resignation
Power Minister Shobha Karandlaje on Monday dropped hints that she will soon quit as minister in the Jagadish Shettar cabinet, reports DHNS from Bangalore.
Participating in a function organised by the KPTCL Accounts Officers’ Association, she said: “It may be our last meeting. But you should ensure that the work related to the department does not suffer. The employees should always strive to provide effective service to people irrespective of the party in power.”
Shobha had recently attacked Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on the law and order issue and alleged that the government has failed to ensure security to women. Subsequently, the core committee of State BJP had taken a decision to drop her from the Cabinet. There has been speculation that she may quit the Cabinet before she is asked to resign.
When contacted, she, however, said she has no plans to resign. Earlier in the day, she is learnt to have held a meeting with her supporters from Yeshwantpur Assembly constituency.