Last Update: May 28, 2023, 2:54 pm IST
Congress supporters wave flags to celebrate the party’s victory in the Karnataka elections. (Image: AP/Representational)
The MLA, a strong contender for the ministerial post, said he decided not to accept the post after taking into account the views expressed by his supporters and voters.
Senior Congress leader C Puttarangshetty, whose name has been cleared by the party for the post of Deputy Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, on Sunday refused to accept the post.
The MLA, a strong contender for the ministerial post, said he decided not to accept the post after taking into account the views expressed by his supporters and voters.
“I will not accept the post of deputy speaker, my supporters and voters have asked me not to accept it saying that I cannot be accessible to them. So they don’t want me to accept it, so I will not accept it.
Noting that he represents the Uppara community and aspires to become a minister, he said, if he accepts the responsibility of deputy speaker, he cannot live among his people and it will be difficult for him to work.
I have also told Siddaramaiah (Chief Minister) about this but he insisted that I should accept it but I told him that I will ask my people and decide…..working constituency for me Will be difficult and I may lose touch with people in this segment as I may be away from it for a long time.
Responding to a question, Puttarangshetty said he was assured of a ministerial berth and hence had gone to Delhi.
But on reaching Bengaluru, it was found that I had not come to the ministry. I don’t know what is the reason, Siddaramaiah can tell.
The party had recently said that Puttarangshetty’s candidature for the post of vice-president has been cleared by AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge.
He defeated BJP’s V Somanna from Chamarajanagar, who was a minister in the previous government.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday expanded his cabinet by inducting 24 new ministers.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI,