By Express News Service
BENGALURU/ MYSURU: After dissidence erupted in the Congress camp, it is now the turn of its coalition partner Janata Dal (Secular) to deal with ministers who are miffed with the portfolios allotted to them.
Janata Dal (S) ministers G T Devegowda and C S Puttaraju, who have been allocated Higher Education and Minor Irrigation Departments respectively, are not happy with the portfolios. While Devegowda said he will request the party leadership to change his portfolio, Puttaraju dismissed reports about any displeasure over portfolio allocation and said he will take up whatever responsibility is given to him by the party.
Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, however, sent out a strong message to his party leaders and indicated that he will not consider such demands. Party strongman Devegowda, who had defeated Congress leader Siddaramaiah on his home turf Chamundeshwari in Mysuru by a margin of over 36,000 votes, was hoping to get Public Works Department (PWD) or Energy portfolios. While PWD ministry has been allocated to the Chief Minister’s brother H D Revanna, Energy portfolio is with the CM.
Sources said Devegowda was so upset that he declined the privileges extended to him as a cabinet rank minister and travelled from Bengaluru to Mysuru by Shatabdhi train. Gowda, who was accompanied by his son Harish Gowda at that time, drove to his house in Vijayanagar in Mysuru in his own vehicle, without giving any hint of his return to Mysuru to his supporters who had planned to give him a grand welcome on Sunday.
As per plan, the supporters wanted to take him in a procession from the toll- gate on Mysuru-Bengaluru road. When Gowda pacified them, they also sided with him demanding for a plum post. High drama was witnessed outside his house in Mysuru on Saturday when Devegowda left in a hurry and confined himself to a hotel, while the angry supporters came to see him. They were of the opinion that Devegowda should not settle for anything less and continue his fight for a plum post.
Though his son Harish tried to pacify them saying that the party higher-ups have promised to discuss the issue, they were in no mood to listen. They also staged a protest demonstration venting their ire against ‘unknown hands that stymied Devegowda’s chances’.Meanwhile, a huge number of Puttaraju’s supporters thronged his house at Krishna Nagar Layout in Pandavapura town of Mandya district, but he was not available. Though it was believed that the new minister left for a temple in Mysuru on Friday night itself, there were rumours that he too was unhappy with the portfolio.
‘Continue fighting’
Devegowda’s supporters were of the opinion that he should not settle for anything less and continue his fight for a plum post.
