Bengaluru: Congress MLA from BTM Layout, Bengaluru, Ramalinga Reddy, was supposed to meet Speaker of Karnataka Assembly Ramesh Kumar today (July 15) in view of his resignation. The Speaker had slotted him this time last week when he went through his resignation.

But sources tell us that the Congress MLA was unable to meet the Speaker at the appointed time, due to various reasons. So the leader intimated his inability to the Speaker and it is learnt that the Speaker has okayed his absence.

Sources add that the Congress MLA will be meeting him tomorrow (July 16) at 4pm.

Another MLA Gopalaiah is also reported to have not met the Speaker. He was scheduled to meet him along with Ramalinga Reddy. He too has sought a different appointment.

It might be recalled that Ramalinga Reddy had categorically refused to speak to the media about politics till today (July 15) in view of meeting the Speaker.

On Sunday (July 14), Congress stalwarts including Mallikarjun Kharge, ex-MP from Kalaburagi and water resources minister DK Shivakumar had met Reddy, with a view to pacify him to withdraw his resignation, but everything ended up as a futile attempt.

Congress leaders were of the opinion that if Ramalinga Reddy was pacified into withdrawing his resignation, his aides like Somashekar, Congress MLA from Yeshwantpur would come back to the party fold, thereby, reviving a sinking Congress.

But it is not to be.

Sources say that Ramalinga Reddy is sticking to his guns and may not withdraw his resignation.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is all set to continue hearing the case of MLAs’ resignation tomorrow (July 16).

The Speaker has set July 18 as the date for chief minister HD Kumaraswamy to take up the trust vote.