Mr Ambareesh, 63, was dropped along with 13 other ministers in a reshuffle by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday.
Highlights
- Ambareesh a popular Kannada actor, member of Congress
- Was dropped as Housing Minister on Sunday
- Cabinet reshuffle has triggered protests by those removed
Smarting over his removal as a minister, Kannada mega-star MH Ambareesh offered this message to his party, the Congress, today: "I am not a
chappal (slipper) that can be worn and then thrown away".
Mr Ambareesh, 63, was dropped along with 13 other ministers in a reshuffle by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday.
He had reportedly been assessed as a poor performer in his three years in his role as Housing Minister.
"I have my own popularity," the actor-turned-politician asserted. He said his biggest complaint is that his boss, the Chief Minister, did not warn him about his removal. "I would have given up (the post) for a younger leader," he claimed.
Mr Ambareesh says he has quit as state legislator, but rules need him to deliver a resignation letter in person to the Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly.
A major film industry association has stopped production of movies in a show of support for the actor.
The Congress hopes that the protests will die down soon. The concern would be if Mr Ambareesh, from the powerful Vokkaliga community, becomes a rallying point for others who were unhappy with the reshuffle. He hinted at the possibility, telling media persons, "Everybody will be in touch, because they don't want to leave me. They all know that I am an asset. I am not an ordinary man."
Another dropped minister from north Karnataka has issues of his own. Qamarul Islam believes him being dropped is bad for his region. "It is the issue of north Karnataka... People have elected me on the ticket of the Congress. What is my fault?"
The inclusion of Mallikarjuna Kharge's son Priyank has also caused heartburn with dropped Dalit minister Srinivas Prasad saying it was not right of Mr Kharge to make this happen.
The plan of the ruling Congress in Karnataka was to present a revamped look ahead of the 2018 polls. The party now hopes that the discontent over the cabinet reshuffle does not grow into a full rebellion led by unhappy representatives of different vote banks.