“There is no question of withdrawing my resignation,” said M.H. Ambareesh, Mandya MLA and former Housing Minister.
He was speaking to reporters on Tuesday, a day after he submitted his resignation to the MLA’s post.
Mr. Ambareesh said that he was upset that no one from the government, especially Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, had consulted him before dropping him from the Cabinet.
“Mr. Siddaramaiah should have, at least for courtesy, called me. He is behaving like a dictator. He has not spared even senior leaders such as Nanjangud MLA V. Srinivasa Prasad,” he charged.
Asked if he was dropped from the Cabinet at the behest of former MP Ramya, he stated categorically that she was not involved. “Why is she being dragged into this unnecessarily?” he asked.
Mr. Ambareesh, in response to a question, also stated that his health was not the reason for him deciding to quit as an MLA. He declared that he was “fit as a fiddle”.
While stating that no one from the Congress had contacted him, he said Janata Dal (Secular) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda had spoken to him. “While there will be no change in my decision, I cannot predict my future,” he said in response to a question on whether he would lead the rebel Congress leaders.
About possible disciplinary action that might be initiated on him, he said: “Mr. Siddaramaiah, with an ambition of becoming Chief Minister, had resigned when he was the Deputy Chief Minister. What possible disciplinary action can he initiate?”
Earlier, Yeshwanthpur MLA S.T. Somashekhar, who has also lashed out at the Congress leadership, met with Mr. Ambareesh at his residence and held a closed door meeting. The outcome of the hour-long meeting is not known. Several supporters from MLA had come to his (Mr. Ambareesh’s) residence to meet him.
Meanwhile, Mr. Siddaramaiah told reporters that he will speak to Mr. Ambareesh.
