Bengaluru: Peeved at being denied a ministerial post, senior Congressman TB Jayachandra has refused to accept the post of pro tem speaker, adding to growing discontent within Congress.“I am not interested in the post. Even MLAs have advised me not to accept it,” Jayachandra said.Sources say senior functionaries and the party high command have reached out to Jayachandra and are trying to convince him to accept the constitutional responsibility. It is said that he could change his mind.A pro tem speaker performs duties of the speaker until the assembly elects a permanent speaker. An assembly bulletin Monday said the governor had appointed Jayachandra to discharge functions of the speaker with effect from Aug 3.The posts of speaker and deputy speaker are currently vacant and are expected to be filled during the monsoon session beginning Aug 13. Congress had already cleared the names of Ron MLA GS Patil for the post of speaker and AS Ponnanna for deputy speaker posts.Dissatisfaction within Congress over cabinet expansion deepened Tuesday as legislators from Kolar and Chikkaballapur accused party brass of denying the two districts representation despite electing seven Congress MLAs. Seniors, including SN Narayanaswamy and former minister MC Sudhakar, demanded an explanation from the high command, saying the issue was regional representation rather than personal ambition.Sudhakar criticised CM DK Shivakumar’s remarks that resignations of unhappy legislators would be accepted within minutes, while Narayanaswamy said MLAs were elected on their own political strength. Supporters of SN Subbareddy have called for a bandh Wednesday. However, state Congress president BK Hariprasad denied reports of widespread dissent.Meanwhile, urban development minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah, in Bidar Tuesday, dismissed speculation over former CM Siddaramaiah’s absence from Monday’s swearing-in ceremony, saying he had no displeasure over the exercise. Yathindra said his father was occupied with birthday engagements since many people had visited to greet him. He pointed out that several newly inducted ministers also called on him. On disgruntlement in Congress, he said: “Those who miss out on ministerial positions may feel disappointed, but the high command will address all concerns. It is never possible to give ministerial positions to every community, but efforts have been made to maintain balance and ensure representation.”
