Dropped From Karnataka Cabinet, Ambareesh Resigns As Legislator

Bengaluru: Actor Ambareesh, who was dropped from Karnataka's cabinet of ministers, has sent his resignation as legislator to the deputy speaker of the Karnataka assembly. However this resignation has not been accepted as Ambareesh is required to appear in person.

On Sunday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had reshuffled his cabinet, with 13 new ministers sworn in and 14 dropped.

Ambareesh was housing minister in the cabinet and there was speculation for days that he would be among those who would be dropped from the ministry. There had been criticism of his performance in his ministerial role.

But the man from Mandya, or Mandyada Gandu as he is known in Kannada, still has his supporters. Mandya district saw protests against his being dropped.  The Kannada film industry, where he is called the Rebel Star, also stopped the production of some films in protest and to show their support for the silver screen hero.

There have been protests since yesterday from supporters of those dropped and those who did not make it into the new cabinet.

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Siddaramaiah, and his Congress party, would have known that the major reshuffle would ruffle many feathers - and it took a long time to be finalised. Now that it has happened, Siddaramaiah needs to be seen as standing firm if he is to look like a credible leader ahead of the Assembly elections in 2018.