Bengaluru: With the resignation of BSP Minister N. Mahesh from the coalition government taking a political colour, JD(S) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda is doing his best to retain him in the cabinet and has reportedly instructed Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy not to forward his resignation to the governor till he speaks to BSP supremo Mayawati on the issue.
Though the resignation came soon after Ms Mayawati announced her breakup with the Congress for the coming Assembly polls in five states, sources said Ms Mayawati was miffed with Mr Mahesh, who had claimed that the BSP in Karnataka had survived because of him.
There are even unconfirmed reports that these claims had reached Ms Mayawati’s ears and she wanted him to resign as minister.
Mr Mahesh has sent his resignation letter both to the CM as well as the Governor. However, Mr Kumaraswamy has not yet forwarded the resignation to the Governor and so it is yet to be accepted.
With the campaign for the Assembly and Lok Sabha bypolls in full swing, Mr Mahesh’s resignation may send the wrong signal to Dalits the support base of the BSP and realising the damage it would cause, Mr Gowda has decided to convince Ms Mayavati to retain Mr Mahesh in the cabinet, sources added.
