Bangalore: Even as the widespread protest against release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu continued unabated, Congress Lok Sabha member from Mandya and popular Kannada cine hero, Ambareesh on September 18 offered to resign his Lok Sabha membership to express solidarity with the farmers.

In a statement, the actor-turned-politician said that the Congress government headed by Chief Minister S M Krishna was leaving no stone unturned to present the state's case effectively during the September 23 hearing in the Supreme Court.

He said that the entire government machinery has been racing against time in pooling data on water inflow, outflow and storage position in the four reservoirs of the Cauvery delta and the distress situation faced by the state on account of failure of rains.

Ambareesh said that he was hopeful that the Supreme Court would come to the rescue of Karnataka farmers this time and its verdict would be in favour of the state.

Ambareesh said that leaders of all parties and their Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and MPs setting aside affiliations have been agitating over the water release and appealed them to continue the stir on peaceful lines.

He said to protect the interest of state's farmers, he was willing to quit his Lok Sabha membership and join the stir.

Ambareesh said that leaders of all political parties including MPs and MLAs from the state have been planning to organise a state-wide agitation on the Cauvery issue.

PTI