Karnataka may go in for a quick probe on Suresh Kumar issue

He remains firm on quitting despite appeals to reconsider decision

Shaken by the episode of Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S. Suresh Kumar — a clean face in the party that is haunted by a series of scams allegedly involving its top leaders and Ministers — quitting in the wake of allegations of making false claims in the affidavit to get a Bangalore Development Authority site, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is making efforts to get him back into the Ministry at the earliest.

Though the party top leaders, including Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, made fervent appeals to him to withdraw his resignation, Mr. Suresh Kumar is said to be unwilling to reconsider his decision.

Pointing out that there is a cloud of suspicion over him following the allegations, he has sought that the Chief Minister should clear the air by conducting an inquiry.

In this context, the State government is learnt to have decided to order a probe in a couple of days and also complete the investigation process in a week so that he could be taken back into the Ministry.

The party is confident that he will get a clean chit.

Meanwhile, some of the party senior leaders would continue to persuade him to change his mind, especially in the wake of the support he has got from various quarters, including the Opposition parties which have felt that he has not committed any “serious mistake” requiring his resignation, the sources said.

Key role

According to a prominent BJP leader, the government needs him as he used to play a key role in monitoring administrative related works of various departments.

He was part of the party’s think tank that was engaged in working out the ways and means of improving the party’s image through good governance.

In fact, he played a crucial role in the process of enactment of Sakala.

One person who would miss Mr. Suresh Kumar’s services would be the Chief Minister — who is managing 20 portfolios — as he used to get his assistance in managing the departments. The Chief Minister’s as well as the government’s dependence on him increased after the death of V.S. Acharya.

According to the sources, the party will try to use Mr. Suresh Kumar’s episode to send out a message to some of its leaders and Ministers — who are facing allegations — to be sensitive about their pubic image.