Ministers ready to resign to accommodate unhappy MLAs: D.K. Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Jan 19: Senior Congress leader and Minister D K Shivakumar Saturday said all ministers in the party including him were ready to step aside from the cabinet in the interest of the party to accommodate those MLAs who are dissatisfied.
"We are loyal soldiers of the party. When Dharm Singh government was there I was kept out of the government for political reasons...in the last regime I was MLA for sixth term, Siddaramaiah could not include me in his cabinet (initially)," Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said this time it was a coalition government, and several legislators, who were senior to him- V Muniyappa, Ramalinga Reddy, Roshan Baig, H K Patil - are not part of the government.
"If need be, including myself, I'm telling you, we are ready to sacrifice for the party, for the workers, for legislators. Nothing is important.
Party is important to us we want to bring back our party with flying colours," he said in response to a question.
Shivakumar also said the "decision" was arrived at a meeting of Congress ministers held a few days ago.
He said "I voluntarily have offered (to step down).
In the interest of the party, if my leaders want, I'm ready."
To a question how many ministers were ready to resign, he said "All of us are ready..."
The statement by the Congress' "troubleshooter" gains significance as there is simmering discontent within a section in the party over not getting cabinet berth during the recent rejig.
To a question about getting in touch with MLAs, including Nagendra and Umesh Jadhav who were absent from the CLP meeting on Friday, Shivakumar said, "I'm in touch with all MLAs...I don't want to disclose."
He said there were no "rebels" in the party and downplayed dissatisfaction within the party.
"Who is rebel? I don't know, I have not seen any rebels," he said.
To a question how long Congress legislators will stay in the resort, Shivakumar said "Let me see...discussions are on district by district, constituency wise discussions are on (regarding Parliamentary election), also about the development work in each constituency."
Asked whether MLAs would return from the resort tomorrow, without giving any direct response, he said "Can they stay there itself?"
Congress on Friday had shifted all its MLAs to a resort to allegedly "escape" from the BJP's "onslaught."
On BJP going for a statewide tour to study drought, Shivakumar, terming it as a "good" move, assured full cooperation from the government.
He also asked BJP legislators still in Delhi, to put pressure on the Prime Minister and Rural Development Minister "to get back our NREGA money" of about Rs 1,500 crore that is pending with the Centre.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Rickelton's ton in vain as SRH beat MI by 6 wickets
Mumbai (PTI): Ryan Rickelton's whirlwind unbeaten ton was overshadowed by Heinrich Klaasen's unbeaten 65 as Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Mumbai Indians by six wickets in an IPL match here on Wednesday.
Chasing an imposing 244-run target, Travis Head (76 off 30) and Abhishek Sharma (45 off 24) shared 129 runs for the opening wicket to set the platform for SRH.
Klaasen (65 not out off 30 balls) then displayed his all-round hitting abilities to guide SRH home with the help of Nitish Kumar Reddy (21) and Salil Arora (30 not out off 10) in 18.4 overs.
Earlier, Rickelton's knock powered MI to 243 for five.
MI rode on a 93-run stand between Rickelton (123 not out off 55 balls) and Will Jacks (46 off 22) in 7.1 overs for the opening stand to power the side.
MI skipper Hardik Pandya scored a valuable 31 off 15 balls before being dismissed.
Praful Hinge (2/54), Eshan Malinga (1/29), Sakib Hasan (1/39) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/31) were the wicket-takers for SRH.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indian: 243 for 5 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 123 not out; Praful Hinge 2/54).
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 249 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Travis Head 76, Heinrich Klaasen 65 not out; AM Ghazanfar 2/51).
