Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Monday made no secret of his pain in accepting the resignation of his "protege" and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Shobha Karandlaje.
Forty-five-year-old Karandlaje, the only woman minister in the government, resigned today after rebels did not relent on their demand for her exit from the cabinet.
"I politics sometimes there comes inevitable instance. Sacrifice, service, honesty and hardwork... sometimes there is no value for them," Yeddyurappa told mediapersons after handing over her resignation to Governor H R Bhardwaj at Raj Bhavan.
Appearing deeply disappointed that he had to let Karandlaje go from the Cabinet, Yeddyurappa during his brief interaction with the media appeared to be lost for words at one stage. "I am not in a position to reply".
"Sometimes, you have to be sacrificial goat for your hardwork and honesty," the chief minister said, not making an attempt to hide his emotions. He termed her resignation "inevitable".
Meanwhile, the chief minister briefed the governor on the happenings of the last fortnight that saw intense dissident activities seeking his removal.
Yeddyurappa on Saturday broke down while commenting on the political developments to a regional television channel and said, "I was forced to sacrifice those who trusted me. Be it Shobha or Baligar (his principal secretary). I think even God will not forgive me".
Meanwhile, peeved at being made to resign from ministry under pressure from dissidents as part of a compromise package, Karandlaje lashed out at the rebels saying she quit to ensure continues in office for a full term.
"I have quit to ensure that Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa continues in his post for another three and a half years. Nobody should become a hindrance to Yeddyurappa", an emotional Karandlaje, a confidante of Yeddyurappa, told mediapersons after tendering her resignation.
She said this was a challenge for her and that she would bounce back.
"I would not say that I am not hurt in this entire episode. However, what has hurt me the most is that those in the central and state leadership, who so desperately wanted me out of the government, have not told me the exact reason for shunting me out. I don't even know why they wanted me out in the first place," she said.
Karandlaje, who was rural development and Panchayati Raj minister, said, "I have no regrets at losing the ministerial post. But I am stung by pain. I have been asking those who are attacking me. Why they are asking for my resignation? Do I have corruption charges or am I an inefficient minister? I want answers to these questions".
"I am not distressed nor would run away from the field. I will continue to serve the people as a social worker. After two days, I will work for rehabilitation of flood victims" Karandlaje said.
Karandlaje became the first political victim a day after the Bharatiya Janata Party central leadership came out with the compromise formula to end the two-week long crisis in the party in the state that had cast a shadow of instability on the Yeddyurappa government following the revolt led by Tourism Minister G Janardhan Reddy.
With inputs from Vicky Nanjappa in Bengaluru
