Tumkur, 4 August

Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) Chairman SR Srinivas has abruptly resigned from his post a day after being bypassed for a ministerial position in Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's expanded cabinet.

In a statement to the media, Srinivas said, "My decision to resign is not linked to being denied a ministerial berth. I had already decided to step down earlier, and my resignation should not be viewed as a reaction to the Cabinet expansion."

However, he added, "It is disappointing that becoming a minister seems to require being the son of a former Chief Minister or having influential political patrons. My father was a small farmer, and the fact that I have reached this position itself is a significant achievement."

His statement indicates factional tensions within the ruling Congress party and a critique of the state's political landscape. 

The Gubbi MLA has departed at a time when the KSRTC is facing quarterly losses of approximately Rs 295 crore. Days before resigning, Srinivas had suggested in a board meeting that passenger fares be hiked by about 15 to 20 per cent to stem the loss, claiming it was necessary as the state exchequer could not be expected to repeatedly fill the gap.