Siddeshwara to resign from Cabinet after July 12

Siddeshwara, an MP from Karnataka, was reportedly informed that he must resign from the Council of Ministers, when the PM dropped five other ministers from the Cabinet on Tuesday. However, he said, “I am resigning due to personal reasons.”

Siddeshwara was not in the capital when the decision was taken as he had to address a big rally in his constituency. “I will return to Delhi on July 12 and meet the party president and other top leaders. Only then a decision will be taken,” he said, confirming that he had asked the BJP not to embarrass him by forcing him to cancel the public meeting lined up to mark his 64th birthday.

The Cabinet reshuffle has raised much discontent among party leaders and many existing and former ministers. However, the reshuffle, which according to sources had shaken several senior ministers, died down on Friday morning.