Sulking over portfolio allocation, Karnataka Minister Anand Singh hints at resignation
Hospet, Aug 11: Sulking over the portfolio allocation, Karnataka Minister Anand Singh on Wednesday dropped a hint that he would resign his position a week after assuming charge.
Singh assumed charge as Minister for Tourism, Ecology and Environment, a week ago.
Sources close to the Minister said he was keen on getting the forest department which he held in the previous B S Yediyurappa government, along with energy portfolio.
"Against his wish, he was given tourism, ecology and environment portfolio", they added.
As he expressed his displeasure, he also shut down his MLA office here.
"My political life started from this Venu Gopalakrishna Temple. I would like to tell you that I don't know whether my political life may also end here. If I have the blessings of Gopalakrishna, there may be a new beginning as well," Singh said.
He was talking to reporters after offering special prayers at the temple, which was built by his grandfather Shankar Singh 60 years ago.
"However, if God says that your political life ends here then I will seek the blessings of Krishna and will start a new innings in my life," Singh said.
"I never behaved in a way to embarrass the party and our leaders. If I have behaved like that then pardon me. I am saying this because I am not a big politician of the state," the Minister said.
"I realised only yesterday that I lived under the wrong impression that there are many politicians in the state to protect me.
I had full confidence that there were political bigwigs and friends ready to protect me but it proved to be my overconfidence. It was under some illusion. I have faith in my leaders but I am skeptical whether they have faith in me," he said.
Singh refused to give reply to any specific questions regarding his future course of action. "I don't want to react to anything. I have told the Chief Minister politically whatever I had to, when I met him on August 8. I stand by it even now and in the future also. My stand is my stand. I won't make it public. Whether they have given assurance to me or not, it is left to them," he said in response to a query.
Expressing his gratitude and respect towards the former chief minister B S Yediyurappa, who resigned on July 26, which also marked the completion of his two years in the office, Singh said the former gave all that he had asked for such as a separate district to Hospet Taluk, carving out Vijayanagara from Ballari district, irrigation projects and the portfolio of his choice.
Earlier, speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he was aware of Singh's sentiments.
"Me and Anand Singh are friends for three decades. We are continuously in touch. Yesterday I spoke to him. Today also I will speak to him. I am aware of his views and I too have conveyed my views. Everything will be set right after he comes and speaks to me," Bommai told reporters.
Dismissing some reports that Singh has tendered his resignation, Bommai was confident that he would "convince him".
He also said that the minister spoke his mind in an "emotional moment", and asked him to do so in a "calm state of mind".
The CM said he will have to speak to his "higher-ups" to resolve the demands put forth by the sulking minister.
The minister was among the 17 Congress and JD (S) MLAs, who were disqualified. Later, 16 of them joined the BJP and became legislators again after winning byelections. A majority of them became Ministers.
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Allahabad HC orders probe into 'reinstatement' of teacher in UP's Barabanki
Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday ordered a probe by the special task force (STF) into alleged irregularities in the rejoining of a teacher at City Intermediate College in Barabanki, observing that the reinstatement appeared to be prima facie illegal.
The court also directed the recovery of the salary paid to the teacher during the disputed period.
A bench of Justice Rajeev Singh passed the order on a petition filed by the college management committee. The court expressed doubts over the roles of the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), Barabanki, the college principal and the teacher concerned and hence, directed a detailed inquiry into the matter.
Taking note of alleged manipulation of records and misleading submissions, the court ordered the immediate transfer of the Barabanki DIOS to ensure a fair probe. It also directed the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the then joint director of education of the Ayodhya division.
In its order, the court found that the teacher, Abhay Kumar, was initially appointed as an assistant teacher in 2018 but joined an Eklavya Model Residential School in Chhattisgarh as a lecturer in June 2024 without obtaining permission from the management. His subsequent request to retain the lien was rejected.
Despite this, he was allowed to rejoin the Barabanki College in September 2025 on the directions of the joint director of education and the DIOS, and was even paid the salary for October 2025. The court termed the rejoining "wholly illegal" and lacking any legal basis.
The bench also expressed concern over lapses in communication within the education department and directed the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to ensure that official orders are communicated through email and WhatsApp as well, to prevent disputes.
The matter is next listed for hearing on May 28 when a compliance report is sought.
