NEW DELHI: Karnataka rural development and panchayat raj (RDPR) minister KS Eshwarappa tendered his resignation from the Basavaraja Bommai cabinet on Friday evening.
While tendering his resignation to the chief minister, Eshwarappa was seen along with state ministers Byrati Basavaraj, MTB Nagaraj, Araga Jnanendra and MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi at the CM's residence.
"For the last 4 days, I've been asking my seniors to accept my resignation, today they accepted it. There is a conspiracy behind all this," he said after submitting his resignation.
Eshwarappa had been under pressure after being embroiled in the suicide of a civil contractor. The BJP leader however sounded confident that he will come out clean in the probe and rejoin the cabinet.
"If I continue as minister when investigation is on, there will be a feeling that I may influence the investigation. So I'm resigning as minister...I'm telling you that I will come out innocent and will certainly become minister once again," Eshwarappa had said before resigning.
He also seemed to have the chief minister's support.
"I spoke to him yesterday, he is of a clear stand and is voluntarily resigning. He has said that he is hundred per cent innocent. He has asked for an investigation to happen at the earliest and is confident of coming out clear from the allegations against him," chief minister Bommai told reporters in Bengaluru.
Santhosh K Patil, a contractor and BJP leader from Belagavi who made graft allegations against Eshwarappa, committed suicide by consuming poison on Tuesday. He had alleged that the Minister had been harassing him for commissions to clear his bills for projects he had implemented for the government.
Eshwarappa had initially denied involvement in the contractor's suicide and resolved not to resign. However his position became untenable after he was named in the FIR, along with a few others, for abetment of suicide and other charges.
The opposition had been vocal in demanding his resignation. The Congress has demanded his arrest and that he should be booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
"There is a categorical allegation in the complaint, Santosh Patil has also said it before the media. Despite this, an FIR has not been registered under Prevention of Corruption Act purposely...cases have been registered only for abetment," Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah said.
(With agency inputs)
