Bengaluru, Sep 23: Congress MLA Yeshwanthrayagouda V. Patil’s resignation over the failure to declare his Indi constituency in Vijayapura district drought-hit was rejected by Karnataka Assembly Speaker G.S. Patil on Wednesday, after the issue triggered a heated exchange between the ruling party and the Opposition.
Patil had submitted his resignation on September 22, saying he was unable to meet the expectations of people in his constituency amid crop losses and shortages of drinking water for people and livestock.
In his resignation letter, Patil said farmers had borrowed money to purchase seeds and fertilisers after receiving initial rainfall, but their crops withered due to the subsequent failure of timely rains.
He said he had approached Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara on August 28, seeking that Indi be declared drought-hit.
Of the 13 taluks in Vijayapura district, 11 have been declared drought-hit, while Indi and Chadchan were left out, according to the information provided. As many as 188 taluks have been declared drought-hit across the state.
Raising the issue during the Assembly debate on drought, Leader of Opposition R. Ashok questioned the delay in deciding on Patil’s resignation. BJP members also raised slogans against the government.
Patil, in his letter, alleged that influential people and those using pressure tactics were receiving greater consideration.
“There is no value to my words or feelings,” he said, adding that people with a “gentle and moderate approach” were not receiving consideration for legitimate demands.
Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said the Centre’s drought manual was restricting the state’s ability to declare additional taluks drought-hit. He said the state government had written 10 letters to the Centre seeking relaxation in the norms.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar rejected allegations of discrimination among constituencies, saying drought declarations were based on prescribed parameters.
“I cannot decide on declaring drought taluks. There are parameters,” Shivakumar said.
He described Patil’s resignation as an emotional response and said, “The Indi MLA was emotional. I have pacified him.”
After the debate, Speaker G.S. Patil announced that he had rejected the resignation, saying it did not comply with the rules.
Patil had earlier resigned from the Assembly on August 3 after being left out of the Cabinet expansion, but withdrew his resignation following persuasion by Congress leaders.
The latest episode came days after senior Congress legislator H.K. Patil had said he would resign if Gadag taluk was not declared drought-hit by October 10. Gadag was subsequently included in the drought-hit list.
