Amid drought debate, Karnataka Congress MLA quits for second time in 2 months

The Congress MLA from Indi taluk in Vijayapura district, Yashwanthrayagouda V. Patil, resigned from his position due to the failure to declare his constituency as drought-hit, causing embarrassment to the D.K. Shivakumar-led government. In his resignation letter, Patil expressed concern over farmers' crop losses and water shortages faced by people and livestock due to delayed rainfall.

This was Patil's second resignation this year; previously, he had resigned in August after being denied a Cabinet berth but later withdrew following persuasion by Congress leaders. The Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashok, criticized the government for the delay in accepting Patil's resignation, questioning the government's handling of the drought situation.

Patil claimed that he had previously written to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister about declaring Indi as drought-hit but received no response. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members protested against the government with slogans of "shame, shame." The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, G.S. Patil, dismissed Patil's resignation as non-compliant with the rules, stating that the resignation was an emotional response.

The Gadag taluk was later declared drought-hit, pacifying senior Congress legislator H.K. Patil, who had threatened to resign unless Gadag was declared drought-hit by October 10.