Karnataka: B Sriramulu sulks over change in portfolio

BENGALURU: Unhappy over the sudden change in portfolio, newly appointed social welfare minister B Sriramulu is reportedly in two minds about accepting his new role. On Sunday, K Sudhakar replaced him as health minister.
Sriramulu, who met Yediyurappa immediately after the notification on change of his portfolio was issued on Monday morning, conveyed his displeasure and took off for a secluded place, leaving behind his office vehicle.
Sriramulu later held discussions with his close associates over the next course of action and is even contemplating going to Delhi to meet the BJP central leadership, party sources said. Sriramulu, who has time and again expressed his deputy chief ministerial ambitions, has been sulking because of the timing of the move.
According to sources, he is worried that the abrupt change would cast aspersions on his capability and image as it has come amid rising Covid-19 cases inthe state. Further, he is also upset over the decision to take away the backward classes welfare department from him.
‘It will damage my reputation’
“I’m okay with any portfolio. But I’m not happy about the timing of the development. The change will damage my reputation and make people believe that I’m a failure as a health minister, which is unacceptable,” Sriramulu reportedly told the chief minister.
The minister is also said to have taken objection to handing over the ministry to Sudhakar, claiming the latter has utterly failed as Covid-19 in-charge in Bengaluru city.
“The Covid-19 daily caseload has touched 5,000 from 1,000 from the time Sudhakar took over as Bengaluru in-charge. This proves he has completely failed,” Sriramulu reportedly told the CM.
On his part, Yediyurappa tried to convince Sriramulu that the decision to divest him of the health ministry was taken by the party high command and he had no role in it.
Many senior leaders and his cabinet colleagues also tried to convince Sriramulu not to take any hasty decision. It is being said that Yediyurappa has invited the sulking ST strongman for another round of meeting on Tuesday morning, during which he might offer to return the backward classes welfare portfolio to him.