Won't accept Deputy Assembly Speaker post, says K'taka Congress MLA Puttarangashetty
Chamarajanagara, May 28: Senior Congress leader C Puttarangashetty, whose name has been cleared by the party for the position of Deputy Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly, on Sunday refused to accept the post.
The MLA, who is a strong Ministerial aspirant, said he decided not to accept the post following the views expressed by his supporters and voters.
"I won't accept the Deputy Speaker post, my supporters and voters have asked me not to accept it, stating that I may not be accessible for them. So they don't want me to accept it, so I will not accept it," Puttarangashetty told reporters here.
Noting that he represents the Uppara community and was aspiring to be a Minister, he said, if he accepts the responsibility of the Deputy Speaker, he cannot be amidst his people and it will be difficult for him to function.
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"I have conveyed this to Siddaramaiah (Chief Minister) too, but he insisted that I should accept it, but I had told him that I will ask my people and decide.....it will be difficult for me to function in the constituency and I may lose link with the people of the segment as I may stay away from it for long," he added.
Responding to a query, Puttarangashetty said he was assured a Minister position and hence he had been to Delhi.
"But on reaching Bengaluru, I got to know that I have not made it to the Ministry. I don't know what the reason is, Siddaramiah can explain," he said, adding that his supporters, who were upset staged a protest and have requested him to function just as an MLA.
Puttarangashetty's candidature for the Deputy Speaker's post has been approved by AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, the party had said recently.
He won from Chamarajanagara defeating BJP's V Somanna, who was Minister in the previous government.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday had expanded his cabinet by inducting 24 new Ministers.
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Bengaluru: PUC student dies by suicide, hours after results were declared
Bengaluru (PTI): A second-year Pre-University Course student allegedly died by suicide at her residence here, hours after the exam results were announced, police said on Friday.
Tanushree (17), a science student, reportedly failed in three subjects, which is suspected to be the trigger behind her taking such an extreme step, they said.
However, no suicide note was recovered from the spot, except her hall ticket, which was found lying on the bed.
According to police, the incident came to light on Thursday around 3.30 pm, shortly after the results were announced.
She hung herself from the ceiling fan when no one was at home. Her mother had gone to work, a senior police officer said.
Citing preliminary inquiry, the officer said it is a clear-cut case of suicide. She was apparently distressed over failing in three subjects and had also called her friends to discuss the same.
When she did not respond to their calls and messages later, her friends decided to check on her, he said.
Based on her mother's complaint, a case of unnatural death has been filed, with Hebbal police investigation indicating it to be a case of suicide, police added.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.)
