Mired in an alleged recruitment scandal in two state-run medical colleges, Karnataka medical education minister Ramachandra Gowda resigned today after Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa asked him to step down.
Gowda’s exit came a day before the government will submit a list to the High Court of those who were recruited. Last week the Court had rapped Gowda over irregularities in recruitments for medical colleges in Mysore and Hassan.
Gowda was proceeding to the temple town of Tirupati to offer worship to Lord Venkateshwara last evening when he was summoned by Yeddyurappa to put in his papers. In his two-line resignation letter, he said, “As per your wishes I am resigning from the Ministry. I thank you for giving me an opportunity to serve as a minister”.
A sulking Gowda, once a close confidant of Yeddyurappa before relations soured and an RSS follower, refused to reveal future plans but rejected allegations of irregularities. Gowda had come under opposition attack over irregularities in recruitment of over 350 paramedical staff in medical colleges in Mysore and Hassan.
He is the third minister to be forced out of office from the 28 month old first ever BJP government in the south after being dogged by controversy. S N Krishnaiah Shetty had quit after allegations of financial irregularities in purchase of land from farmers and its sale to Karnataka Housing Board surfaced while he was the minister for Housing.
H Halappa made an unceremonious exit after he faced allegations of rape made by the wife of his friend, a matter now pending in court. Yeddyurappa, who is reported to be toying with the idea of restructuring his ministry, will now have three vacancies to fill, with the strength of the ministry being reduced to 31 after Gowda’s resignation.
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Under a truce formula scripted by BJP high command last year after a revolt in the ruling party, led by mining barons and ministers Janardhana Reddy and his brother Karunakara Reddy, Yeddyurappa had axed Shobha Karandlaje. V Somanna had to resign as minister after failing to win the bypoll from Govindrajanagar Assembly constituency.
The High Court had last week not only rapped Gowda over the irregularities in recruitments, but also asked the government to consider continuing eligible candidates while taking exception to the state’s decision to cancel all appointments after the scam surfaced. Meanwhile Yeddyurappa last evening left on a China tour to attend an investors meet.