Actor Ramya likely to be inducted to Karnataka cabinet after Rahul Gandhi's direction

Updated: Tuesday, June 21, 2016, 15:58 [IST]

Bengaluru, June 21: Sources in the top rung of the Congress party tell OneIndia that a clear direction has been passed on to the state Congress by the Vice President, Rahul Gandhi to make Kannada actor, former M P from Mandya, Ramya as MLC thus facilitating her induction to the cabinet berth.

"Rahul Gandhi has instructed the Chief Minister (CM) of Karnataka Siddaramaiah to elevate Ramya to the minister post." This move comes after actor-turned-politcian Ambareesh dropped from Karnataka cabinet, a strong representative of Mandya and Vokkaliga community, sources revealed.

Political rumble between Ramya alias Divya Spandana and Ambareesh is a well know fact in Karnataka political circle. In 2014 general elections Ramya lost her Member of Parliament seat to JD(S)' CS Puttaraju. However Ramya suspects Ambareesh's clandestine play in her defeat by marginal 6000 votes. In a few occasions Ramya and Ambareesh did engage in mudslinging that grabbed headlines of vernacular dailies in the state.

In political turn around, Ambareesh lost his minister post. Given the proximity of Ramya to Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, speculation is rife Ramya influenced ouster of Ambareesh. The tall Sandalwood actor has now sent out his resignation (not accepted yet) for MLA post in an act of threating the party. His resignation certainly has an impact on the Mandya belt of the party.

For a cabinet post that is strategically kept vacant after appointment of 13 ministers to the state, Ramya's name is at the top. It is kept vacant after Ramya allegedly lobbied with the High Command for the same. However after Ambareesh thrown his resignation, the party may reconsider the decision as actor's long term disgruntlement is a curse to the party in a long run, sources said.

But Ramya this time around is hell bent on achieving a coveted berth. After her loss in 2014, for over 2 years she was politically inactive in terms of position. Ramya's close acquaintance with Gandhi family has given the wings to her dreams. Ramya too served in Mandya and she hails from Vokkaliga community. Rahul, day before the cabinet reshuffle, has directed the CM to make Ramya MLC and then induct her to state cabinet, sources divulged.