Ministry: CM stamps his authority

There was intense pressure on him to drop at least six ministers to accommodate legislators who have been aspiring for ministerial berths. The CM has reportedly taken a decision not to go in for a Cabinet reshuffle till the elections to the BBMP are completed.
The submission of resignation letter by Housing Minister Krishnaiah Setty to the CM at the latter’s home office was preceded by high drama.

Setty, along with his wife and two children, went to Tirupati to offer prayers to Lord Venkateshwara. He signed his resignation letter in Tirupati and placed it at the feet of the Lord. He tonsured his head in the temple town.

In the evening when he arrived in Bangalore, he drove straight to the CM’s home office Krishna to submit his resignation. A group of Setty’s supporters gathered at Krishna pleaded him not to sacrifice the ministership. They raised slogans against the CM. 

The frenzied crowd literally prevented Setty from stepping into Krishna by holding his feet. A male supporter was found banging his head repeatedly against a windshield of Setty’s car. He calmed down after Setty slapped on his cheeks. The supporters said that they felt cheated by the BJP and would be tendering their resignation from the primary membership of the party.

At one point, Setty’s daughter and son who were witness to the melee, broke down. After 20 minutes of struggle, Setty finally managed to meet the CM and submitted the resignation letter. He also distributed ladoo prasad to his supporters.

Speaking to reporters, Setty reiterated that he was not acting under pressure or compulsion. He has quit to provide a ‘free hand’ to the CM to reconstitute the ministry. But the Party sources said that Setty was asked by the CM to quit.

Yeddyurappa told reporters that Setty would be getting a post of Cabinet rank. “He has been a role model for others in the party. I thank him for his sacrifice”, the CM said.
Yeddyurappa said and added that Setty’s new responsibility would be announced on Thursday. “Setty did not grow in the Sangh or party. Still he has sacrificed for the party”, he said.

No representation

With Setty’s exit, the Vaishya community will now go unrepresented in the Cabinet. In fact, that Setty did not hail from a dominant community is said to be one of the factors that made the CM to easily drop him.