Two Karnataka Minister’s face the sack

Pressure is building up on two Ministers in the JD (S)-BJP coalition in Karnataka to quit in the wake of their failure to file statements of their assets and liabilities to the Lokayukta before the deadline.

Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde told reporters that he would write a letter to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to take appropriate action against Minister for Sorts and Youth Services Alkod Hanumanthappa and Minister for Agricultural Marketing Sharanabasappa Darshanpur for their lapses in filing statements of assets and liabilities.

The Lokayukta has already issued a notice to both the Ministers seeking an explanation as to why action should not be taken against them by April 21. The Lokayukta had rejected the replies of the Ministers that they had not received the notices. “We have records to show that the notices have been delivered”, the Lokayukta said.

Santosh Hegde said that under Section 13 (2) of the Lokayukta Act, the Ministers concerned should resign on their own or else removed once the recommendation of the Lokayukta is deemed accepted by the Governor. Eight years ago two Ministers of Karnataka had resigned on the same grounds.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy told reporters that action will be taken against the Ministers under the framework of law.