Minister threatens suicide, if removed

Karnataka Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Goolihatti Shekhar on Monday threatened to commit suicide if he is dropped from the ministry during the forthcoming cabinet reshuffle.

Shekhar said he would take appropriate action in case he is dropped from the ministry.

“I don’t know what turn it will take if I am dropped...it may even take the form of suicide. Let the BJP hoist its flag on my dead body,” he said.

The threats came even as Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa met the BJP brass in Delhi on Monday to discuss the reshuffle, which is likely to take place on Wednesday. Party sources say the CM is likely to drop three to four ministers and induct three new faces.

Shekhar was one of the independents who supported the BJP government to give it majority in May 2008 after it fell short of the magic mark.

BJP MLA Belur Gopalakrishna said a group of 20 MLAs, under the leadership of Excise Minister M.P. Renukacharya, have decided to submit their resignation to Governor H.R. Bhardwaj on Tuesday. He denied that it was pressure tactics.

Gopalakrishna, who led the rebellion against the CM last year, said Library Minister Shivanagouda Naik might be axed. “Red carpet has been laid out to outsiders and first-timers while injustice has been meted out to loyalists,” he rued. Yeddyurappa loyalist and minister A.V. Asnotikar said it was imperative to restructure the cabinet by dropping non-performers, scam-tainted persons who hurt the party’s image.

In a related development, MLA S.K. Bellubbi resigned from chairmanship of a state-owned corporation saying he has been sounded to get ready to become a minister again.

Three vacancies were created in the cabinet after resignations by ministers over various reasons, including scandals.