MYSURU/DHARWAD: Congress’ cabinet expansion triggered open rebellion on Monday, with two MLAs announcing plans to resign from the assembly and several overlooked aspirants publicly venting their anger after missing out on ministerial berths.The turmoil began even before the swearing-in ceremony. The Congress high command made two last-minute changes to the final list, replacing Bhatkal MLA Mankal Vaidya with Davanagere North MLA S S Mallikarjun and dropping MLC Gayathri Shantegowda, leaving one cabinet berth vacant. The party offered no official explanation for Gayathri’s exclusion, though sources said chief minister DK Shivakumar and former chief minister Siddaramaiah came under pressure from rival aspirants who opposed her induction.The biggest setback came from three-time Indi MLA Yashavantharayagouda Patil, who submitted his resignation to the deputy speaker, saying he was deeply hurt and had decided to sever ties with the Congress “Parivar”. His omission has also revived a long-standing grievance in Vijayapura district, where Indi remains the only assembly constituency in Karnataka that has never produced a minister.Sagar MLA Belur Gopalakrishna also announced that he would resign, questioning whether cabinet berths were being reserved only for the children of former chief ministers and ministers.“If those who have already enjoyed power continue to get cabinet positions, what future is there for representatives like me? Is it wrong for someone like me to become an MLA?” he asked, claiming he had been assured a ministerial berth before the list changed overnight.Bhadravati MLA B K Sangamesh said he would decide his future after consulting supporters.“They say authority should be given to those who work sincerely for the party, but in my case, it has been the opposite,” he said. Claiming he had played a key role in preventing the BJP from winning in Bhadravati, Sangamesh alleged that the BJP had offered him Rs 50 crore and a ministerial post to switch sides. “I rejected it. I feel cheated,” he said.The resentment spilled onto the streets. Supporters of Tanveer Sait staged protests outside his Mysuru residence, while one of his close supporters allegedly attempted suicide. Demonstrations were also held by supporters of S N Narayanaswamy, Hampanagouda Badarli and Raghavendra Hitnal. In Bagepalli, supporters of MLA S S Subba Reddy called for a bandh on Tuesday after he was left out of the cabinet.Reddy alleged that leaders who had worked against the party were rewarded while loyalists were ignored. “I did not receive the respect I deserved. The party did not abandon me, but some people did,” he said.Later in the day, Shivakumar sought to calm disgruntled legislators by promising chairmanships of boards and corporations carrying cabinet rank. Appealing for patience, he reminded party colleagues that he too had missed out on ministerial berths in 2004 and initially in 2013 before eventually joining the cabinet.
