Party first, posts later, Shivakumar tells disgruntled Congress MLAs to stay patient

CM DK Shivakumar warned disgruntled Congress MLAs that their resignations would be accepted "within minutes" if they chose to quit, stressing that the party was more important than individual's political futures. He also said it was his patience that had brought him to the position he holds today.

In Short

• Karnataka CM warns Congress MLAs threatening resignation after Cabinet expansion
• Promises fresh appointments to state-run boards and corporations soon
• Calls for patience, citing examples of senior leaders who waited for opportunities

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday issued a stern warning to disgruntled Congress MLAs threatening to resign after being left out of the recent Cabinet expansion, saying the party was bigger than individual ambitions and any resignation would be accepted "within a few minutes".

Urging the disappointed legislators to remain patient, Shivakumar said opportunities would come in due course and assured them that appointments to state-run boards and corporations would be made soon.

"I have said whatever I have to... Resignations keep happening in politics. No one can stop those resigning. If they want the party and their future, the party is important. If there is a party, there is everything else," he said in response to questions about MLAs threatening to quit.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Shivakumar cited his own political journey, saying, "I too could have resigned" when he was not made a minister during the tenures of former chief ministers Dharam Singh and Siddaramaiah. Instead, he and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara chose to wait for their opportunity.

Recalling the careers of senior Congress leaders, he said, "When Veerendra Patil was CM, Bangarappa, Kharge and Dharam Singh were not made ministers. Didn't Bangarappa and Singh become CMs later? One needs to have patience."

Reiterating that the party comes first, Shivakumar warned, "If anyone gives resignation, within a few minutes I'm going to accept."

He also announced that state-run boards and corporations would soon be reconstituted. Noting that the tenure of the current office-bearers had already run beyond the promised two-and-a-half years, he said they would first be asked to step down before fresh appointments were made.

"I will first ask our workers to resign from the posts and fill up those posts afresh, then I will speak to MLAs one by one," he said.

The remarks come a day after Shivakumar expanded his Cabinet, inducting 19 ministers in the first major reshuffle since assuming office two months ago.

While the long-awaited expansion ended months of speculation, it also triggered discontent within the ruling Congress, with several ministerial aspirants left out. Indi MLA Yashavantarayagouda V Patil even submitted his resignation from the Assembly on Monday after being denied a berth.

Supporters of several disappointed aspirants staged protests across Karnataka, reflecting the growing unease within the party ranks. The state's ministry has a sanctioned strength of 34, including the chief minister, and following the latest expansion, one ministerial berth remains vacant.

- Ends