Karnataka: “Corrupt Have Made Their Way Into Cabinet,” Alleges Leader Of Opposition
“The new cabinet sworn-in on Monday is filled with corrupt people and many have been inducted into the cabinet through payments”: Opposition in Assembly R. Ashok
BENGALURU: Bharatiya Janata Party Leader of Opposition in Assembly R. Ashok on Tuesday questioned Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar over the inclusion of jailed Ballari Rural MLA B. Nagendra, an accused in the Rs 187 crore financial irregularities in Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation and wanted to know from the Chief Minister “Who gave him a clean chit?” Currently, B. Nagendra is on bail.
“The new cabinet sworn-in on Monday is filled with corrupt people and many have been inducted into the cabinet through payments,” said Ashok at a press conference in Bengaluru and accused the Chief Minister of “washing the tainted ones with a washing machine and bringing them back.” Ashok stated “A cabinet formed that the State has never seen before.”
Regarding inclusion of Davangere MLA S.S. Mallikarjun into the cabinet, Ashok said Bhatkal MLA Mankal Vaidya was removed from the list approved by central leaders and Vaidya’s name was removed to replace him with S.S. Mallikarjun. “This is the magic of money,” he remarked.
Expressing displeasure over cabinet formation, the Leader of Opposition stated representation has not been given to the coastal-Malnad region of the State, besides, districts of Yadhir, Raichur, Vijayanagara, Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts. Referring to protests by supporters of many disgruntled MLAs missing ministerial berths, Ashok said “One MLA (Krishnappa, Vijayanagar MLA of Bengaluru city) is preparing to resign.”
Denial of ministerial berths to women, the BJP MLA said Muslims who are 12 percent have 3 ministers while women who are 50 percent of the State’s population goes unrepresented and termed denial of ministerial berths to women a “betrayal.” The Congress high command, he said, spoke at length about women’s empowerment before the elections but not rewarded women a ministerial berth in the cabinet expansion.
