Mandya: After reports surfaced that Housing Minister M.H. Ambareesh would lobby for MLC seat for his wife Sumalatha, if he was dropped from the ministry, the minister clarified that he would fight for getting seat for others but not for his family members.
The Actor-turned politician, reacting to reports on the same in Mandya, said, “I never knocked anyone’s doors seeking a ministerial berth and I will not request anyone to retain me. I am not bothered even if they drop me during the reshuffle”.

Meanwhile, Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader opined that his colleague Ambareesh would not be dropped from the ministry. “I am not supposed to discuss the issue of who will be inducted and dropped as this will be decided by the Congress high command,” he said.

As the government completed three years in office, seven non-performing ministers are likely to be dropped by CM who is under pressure and induct youngsters. There are more than 15 ministerial aspirants and they are already camping in New Delhi to impress upon the party leaders. Siddaramaiah is expected to complete the reshuffle by month-end.

Siddaramaiah reached New Delhi on June 17 to discuss about the cabinet reshuffle with the high command. Along with CM, Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president G Parameshwara were also present during the deliberations.

It may be recalled that the much-awaited cabinet reshiffle was pending since months due to drought and various other reasons.