JD(S) MLA quits over 'neglect'

JD(S) MLA S R Mahesh on Wednesday submitted his resignation to Deputy Speaker N H Shivashankara Reddy in the Assembly over the state government’s failure to revive the Srirama sugar factory in his constituency KR Nagar, Mysuru district.

He hit out at the governm­e­nt for not keeping its promise made three years ago on the revival of the factory. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been generously sanctioning grants to cons­tit­uencies represented by ruling party MLAs, he said. But he is least bothered about reviving the sugar factory which is the lifeline of thousands of sugar cane farmers, he charged.

He also staged a dharna in the well of the House, urging the deputy speaker to either get an assurance from the government on his demand or accept his resignation. Other JD(S) MLAs joined the protest. The JD(S) members later withdrew the dharna when the deputy speaker assured them that he will get an appropriate reply from the chief minister.