Issue 14 | 17 Feb. 2007

Ambareesh in hot waters over Cauvery

Rebel Star, Mandyada Gandu, Kannada Karna and now FORMER Union Minister and MP. That is Ambarish for you, who proved that when it comes to “sacrificing” power and post, he can do a Karna better than any other. Miffed by reports that his bete noire and main opponent in his constituency, ex-MP, Made Gowda was stealing the thunder from right under his nose on the Cauvery issue, Ambareesh, the three-time MP from the Cauvery Basin, decided to up the ante by giving up Delhi for Cauvery.

Not surprisingly, he will be the star attraction in the protest against the Cauvery Tribunal verdict. Naturally. You can’t have an agitation against Cauvery – the lifeline of Mandya farmers – minus the MP from Mandya. It’s like a Congress electoral campaign minus Sonia Gandhi.

Only a few months ago, Ambareesh had joined the central Cabinet as Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting.

Ambareesh’s resignation has received mixed response. While his political opponents are playing it up as a filmy style drama to cash in on popular sentiments of the people, his admirers and fans including Congressmen believe that he can be the catalyst to mobilize public opinion and put pressure on the Centre to intervene and render justice to Karnataka.
The Internet is buzzing with people’s responses over Ambareesh’s Resignation II (in 1991, he resigned as MP on the same issue). Here are a few typical responses – pro and anti-Ambareesh:

•Good. That is one ***** less in govt. Let Mr. Ambareesh remain forced by circumstances to keep ‘advocating’ the cause of Karnataka in the Cauvery issue. Let him not get an opportunity to wriggle out of this issue to try and sneak back to power. Let him remain till the very end in political wilderness. So much the better for the people. – Sibby Mathews

•Ree ambereesh avare..eega yarige beku nimma mosaley kanneru?? Nimma Congress party kannadigarige mosa madidameley neevu aa party alli iddu yenu prayojana?? modalu aa **** party inda resign maadi.. Aaga navu nimmanna numbuthivi..sumne ee thara nataka maada bedi!! - Venkat

•He was waiting for an opportunity to quit and come home.He got the right one so he quit. – Prasanna Kumar.

•It is good that you have taken the first step. Join the people and launch a campaign against the UPA Govt, which is a mere puppet in the hands of TN politicians. Just because their herd is important to the survival of the union govt. a flawed justice has been handed down to the people of Karnataka. Hope other MPs from Karnataka would follow the suit. Jai Hind, Jai Karnataka. - Raghu