BJP chief whip quits, berth pangs out in streets

The berth pangs in the DV Sadananda Gowda ministry spilled over to the streets on Tuesday with supporters of MLA Belur Gopalakrishna gheraoing excise minister Renukacharya in the presence of former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa in Shimoga.

Meanwhile, chief whip of BJP legislature party DN Jeevaraj quit, expressing displeasure at not being included in the ministry.

Hundreds of supporters of Gopalakrishna surrounded Renukacharya, who had arrived in Shimoga to participate in a function.

Raising slogans in praise of Gopalakrishna, they demanded that Renukacharya assure them that he would impress upon the chief minister the need to have Gopalakrishna in the ministry.

Gopalkrishna’s supporters threatened to launch a massive protest if the MLA from Sagar was denied a berth during the next expansion of the cabinet, when 12 vacant spots will be filled. 

Jeevaraj, who was a strong contender for a spot in the ministry, submitted his resignation from the post of chief whip much before the cabinet expansion as part of the strategy to exert pressure on the chief minister. 

The cabinet expansion on Monday came as a big disappointment for Jeevaraj as he did not find a place among the 21 slots that were filled.

As his hopes crashed, Jeevaraj has urged speaker KG Bopaiah to accept his resignation from the post of BJP’s chief whip.
Ministers and their portfolio