Mundgod/Yellapur: “Shivaram Hebbar, who resigned as Congress MLA stating that his constituency was not developing under the coalition government, did not speak at the Legislative meetings and sessions even once,” alleged Legislative Assembly former Speaker Ramesh Kumar.

Speaking at Congress party workers’ meeting in Mundgod and Yellapur on Saturday, he said that if Hebbar had resigned for the welfare of the people, he should have 
come directly to Bengaluru from Yellapur and not via Mumbai.

“The voters of Yellapur were lucky to see their MLA fly in a special flight to tender resignation as MLA for their welfare,” Ramesh Kumar mocked.

He said that the by-elections were being held as the MLAs resigned without caring for the opinions of the voters and that was a black spot on democracy.

“On that day, I was hurt to see Vidhan Soudha filled with the men in Khaki instead of elected representatives. Resigning and later getting disqualified was an insult to the voters. The voters had to suffer for three months though they did not commit any mistake,” he said.

Sudden resignation

He said that the coalition government was not formed by the decision of one or two people. It was the decision of all the MLAs of the two parties. Shivaram Hebbar was also part of the decision. But he resigned all of a sudden and cited that it was for the development of his constituency. However, the voters know which development works or projects Hebbar was interested in.

“I may have not been an intelligent Speaker but I was elected as Speaker unanimously. I will respect the Constitution and work accordingly till my last breath. I am not the kind of person who will cheat the principles that I follow,” he clarified.

MLC Nazeer Ahmed, Navyashree of Congress Social Media group, Block Congress President Krishna Hirehalli, Congress candidate for Yellapur Assembly Constituency Bhimanna Naik and others accompanied Ramesh Kumar.