Karnataka Congress MLA Offers Resignation Over Drought List Exclusion; Speaker Rejects Letter

In Karnataka, two Congress MLAs have offered to resign over the exclusion of their respective taluks from the list of drought-affected areas. Former minister and Gadag MLA H K Patil initially proposed resigning if the government did not include Gadag. Indi MLA Yashwantharaya Gowda Patil followed suit, meeting Assembly Speaker G S Patil and handing over his resignation letter.

However, Speaker G S Patil rejected the letter, stating it was not in accordance with the rules. The MLAs claimed that farmers in their constituencies had taken loans for sowing and purchasing fertilizers before the rains stopped, leading to crop failure and a shortage of water. They had submitted petitions to Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwar, demanding inclusion in the drought-affected list.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader R Ashok highlighted the issue in the Assembly, criticizing the government's lack of response to the MLAs' plea. Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwar blamed the central government for the delay in addressing the drought situation and pointed out that they had already written ten letters to the Centre, seeking relaxation of the drought manual and funds for relief.

Chief Minister D K Shivakumar met with Yashwanthraya Gowda Patil, who expressed his emotions and the ongoing discussions with him. However, Shivakumar emphasized that drought manuals are not under his control and that he is doing his best to assist every drought-hit taluk, while stressing the need for the Central Government's response. Yashwanthraya Gowda Patil is now reportedly satisfied with the situation.