Ambareesh skips review meet and session but has time for derby

The recent video clippings of former Mandya District in-charge Minister M H Ambareesh in stylish outfit, enjoying horse race, that is being circulated in Whatsapp and Facebook has drawn flak from the farming community and the residents of the district.

The people of the district, who had voted him to Assembly twice and Parliament thrice with lots of hope, have been left disappointed as Ambareesh neither attended the Assembly session nor visited Mandya Assembly constituency, but was spotted at the Derby race held at Bangalore Race Course, recently.

The actor-politician Ambareesh turned rebel against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after being dropped from the ministry. The MLA had sent his resignation to the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, mentioning that if he was not capable of managing minister’s post, how can he continue as a member.

However, his resignation was not accepted as he did not personally handover the letter as per the norms. Later, at a press meet in Mandya, Ambareesh informed that he would personally submit his resignation, which caught the Congress leaders unawares.

But, after a while he softened his stand over the issue and said that he made a mistake by tendering his resignation in a hurry, without consulting with the people of Mandya. Ambi stated that he would take a decision in this regard after meeting his supporters and well-wishers. Ironically, he has not visited the district since the announcement.

The former Housing minister has skipped the Assembly session and was also not spotted attending any meeting or function related to the Congress party. Meanwhile, attired in western outfit, was spotted in the Derby held in Bengaluru recently. He was also seen posing with other ‘dignitaries’ during the race.

It may be mentioned that he was pulled up by the then Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa for attending horse races, when he was serving as minister. After which, he was not spotted at the races. Now, Ambareesh was seen at Derby after the ‘resignation’ drama.

Ambareesh did not even attend the quarterly progress review meeting of the Karnataka Development Programme, convened by the district in-charge Minister D K Shivakumar in Mandya, recently. He was also not seen at the Cauvery Irrigation Consultative Committee meeting held at Vidhana Soudha, recently. At a time when the farmers of the district are under anxiety due to deficient rainfall and insufficient water in KRS dam, closure of MySugar factory and other problems, Ambareesh has not shown any concern towards them, the leaders of farmer organisations complain.

The people of the district are eager to know the future course of action of Ambareesh. Farmer leader Konasale Narasaraju said, “Ambareesh was irresponsible during his tenure as a minister. What can one expect from him now?”