Bengaluru: With BJP and JD(S) disrupting proceedings in both assembly and council for a fourth straight day Thursday, pressure is mounting on Congress to drop planning and statistics minister D Nagendra from the cabinet.The opposition is adamant that it will not let the monsoon session proceed unless Nagendra is sacked. Sources say Congress is mulling asking Nagendra to step down over alleged embezzlement of Maharishi Valmiki ST corporation funds, in return for a prominent post in a board or corporation.The high command is expected to take a call in a day or two. The opposition has vowed to keep up their protest till he quits.However, sources say there is no plan to make him resign just yet, since that would hand the credit to the opposition. “He may be asked to go in the next reshuffle, which is expected soon after the session,” a senior functionary said.On Thursday, opposition members wore black armbands in protest. Opposition leader R Ashoka said, “For one Nagendra, the privilege of 224 members is being breached.”Speaker GS Patil urged the opposition to join discussions on bills and seek answers from the govt, but Ashoka insisted business can resume only after Nagendra is removed.Ashoka also accused deputy CM G Parameshwara of misleading the House by giving Nagendra a clean chit on Wednesday, despite him being named in several chargesheets. Parameshwara had defended Nagendra’s induction into the cabinet a day earlier and criticised the opposition’s protest.“Siddaramaiah removed Nagendra from the cabinet, but DK Shivakumar and the Congress high command have made him a minister again, as a reward for embezzlement,” Ashoka alleged, triggering heated exchanges between the opposition and treasury benches. Some governing party MLAs, including Pradeep Eshwar, joined in with counter sloganeering.Amid the noise, the speaker conducted question hour, during which some Congress MLAs sought answers from ministers. He again asked Ashoka to participate in a discussion on drought, but the LoP shot back, “What’s there to discuss when the govt has not yet declared drought or released money for relief?” With the logjam continuing, the House was adjourned for the day.
