Bengaluru: The Congress govt faced embarrassment during the special legislative session on drought when three-time party MLA Yashvanthraygoud V Patil submitted his resignation on Wednesday, protesting exclusion of Indi and Chadachan taluks in Vijayapura district from the drought-hit list.This was Patil’s second resignation attempt this year. In Aug, he had quit the assembly after being denied a Cabinet berth but withdrew his resignation following persuasion by Congress functionaries.Speaker GS Patil rejected the resignation as the letter was not in the prescribed format.The latest drama came a day after senior Congress legislator and former minister HK Patil threatened to resign if Gadag taluk was not declared drought-hit by Oct 10. The govt has since included Gadag in the drought-hit list of taluks.The resignation triggered a sharp exchange between the treasury and opposition benches. Chief minister DK Shivakumar said Patil’s action was driven by concern for farmers. “I’ve spoken to Patil. Drought declaration has to follow certain guidelines. Otherwise, the Centre will not provide relief to such regions,” he said.Patil had repeatedly sought drought status for Indi and Chadachan, citing crop losses and distress among farmers. In a letter to the CM, he said farmers had borrowed money to buy seeds and fertilisers but suffered losses after crops withered due to monsoon failure.Deputy CM and revenue minister G Parameshwara said, “It is because of impractical parameters set by the Centre we cannot declare all taluks drought-hit. If you (referring to BJP members) convince your top leaders and get rules relaxed, we can immediately declare them drought-hit.”BJP’s R Ashoka and other opposition members claimed the contentious parameters were framed by the UPA govt.The exchange widened into a political dig at the govt’s handling of finances. Sunil Kumar of BJP said, “There was no such embarrassment during Siddaramaiah’s tenure. The only person enjoying the situation now is Siddaramaiah.”Parameshwara said the finance department had consistently followed the same principles irrespective of the govt or CM in power.Ashoka held Patil’s resignation as proof of govt mishandling the drought situation. “Senior leader HK Patil had similarly threatened to resign on the same grounds, while a few others have announced fasts. The state govt should be ashamed,” he said.Health minister UT Khader objected to the opposition raising the issue, asking its leaders not to interfere in Congress’s internal matters.