Bengaluru: Housing minister M T B Nagaraj, who is considered to be the country’s richest minister, announced his political retirement recently. Speaking at an event organised by the shepherd community in the city on Sunday evening, he stated that he will not contest in future elections.

“My ultimate aim and dream was becoming a minister. Former CM Siddaramaiah fulfilled it. As my dream has been fulfilled, I have decided to retire,” he said.

“I am like Hanumanta to Lord Shri Rama. If you open my chest, you will see Siddaramaiah there,” he added.

Backward classes welfare minister C Puttaranga Shetty, who was present at the event urged the JDS and Congress leadership to replace CM H D Kumaraswamy with Siddaramaiah. “No matter what the people say, for me, Siddaramaiah is the CM.”

Local MLA S T Somasekar used the occasion to attack the HDK and H D Deve Gowda family. “A few leaders use all the opportunities to make their relatives, children and grandchildren ministers, Chief Minister, MP, MLA etc. But Siddaramaiah gives an opportunity to everyone,” he said.

“My constituency was developed when Siddaramaiah was the CM. The present government is neglecting the constituency,” he alleged.

Former CM Siddaramaiah, speaking on the occasion said that ensuring social justice is real secularism. “But a few people misinterpret it. It led to my debacle,” he said.