Karnataka minister sacked after expulsion from BJP

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar removed M P Renukacharya for his requent outbursts against state leaders

In a second blow to Karnataka Excise Minister M P Renukacharya after his expulsion from BJP, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Wednesday sacked him from the Cabinet for his frequent outbursts against state leaders.

Shettar has requested Governor H R Bhardwaj to drop Renukacharya from the ministry with immediate effect and it has been accepted, a Raj Bhavan communique said. The Chief Minister had recommended Renukacharya’s sacking yesterday itself, when he was shown the door for "anti-party activities" by Prahlad Joshi in his first act against indiscipline after taking over as the state BJP chief.

Joshi had accused Renukacharya, close to former BJP strongman B S Yeddyurappa, of talking "lightly" about some state leaders, as he had been embarrassing the party by making public attacks against them -- the latest being former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda who was accused of corruption.

Calling his utterances as “a clear violation” of party discipline and “anti-party activity”, Joshi has expelled him for six years.Renukacharya has made it clear that his loyalty lies with Yeddyurappa who floated Karnataka Janatha Paksha after he broke away from BJP last year.

He is expected to join KJP. The action comes ahead of the May 5 Assembly polls even as the ruling BJP is in an uneviable situation of having to deal with several fence-sitters at a time when it is grappling with finalising candidates lists.