Karnataka Cabinet expansion turns messy as minister list changes twice
Karnataka's cabinet expansion has been hit by confusion over the final ministerial list, an oath delay involving Gayatri Shanthegouda and growing discontent within the Congress
Karnataka's cabinet expansion has been hit by confusion over the final ministerial list, an oath delay involving Gayatri Shanthegouda and growing discontent within the Congress, with one MLA reportedly even offering to resign after missing out on a ministerial berth. The swearing-in, scheduled for 4:05 pm, was thrown into uncertainty after passes were printed for the ceremony, only for the Chief Minister's Office to send a message saying it had been postponed to 5 pm "due to circumstances". Read Full Story Amid the confusion, the list of ministers sent by the All India Congress Committee also reportedly underwent a last-minute change.
The name of Mankal Vaidya was initially included before it was changed to SS Mallikarjun, with the alteration attributed to a typing error. GAYATRI SHANTHEGOUDA'S OATH IN LIMBO One of the biggest points of uncertainty is Gayatri Shanthegouda, whose name appeared on the AICC list despite her not yet having taken oath as an MLC. Sources said Gayatri has won a case that paved the way for her to become an MLC, but she is yet to take oath. She was also named as a minister despite not having previously been an MLA or MLC, a move that has triggered questions within the Congress given that Karnataka has 140 MLAs.
Sources said Siddaramaiah has told Gayatri not to take oath and that the Chief Minister has not called her to attend the swearing-in ceremony. She is now unlikely to take oath as minister and could potentially be dropped from the cabinet list. The episode has added another layer of uncertainty to an expansion in which 19 MLAs are expected to take oath. The women's quota in the cabinet is also expected to be filled soon. CONGRESS FACES INTERNAL PUSHBACK The cabinet expansion is also exposing discontent among Congress leaders who have missed out on ministerial berths. In Vijayapura, Congress MLA Yashavanthrayagouda V Patil, who was reportedly left out of the expansion, has offered to resign as MLA, according to sources.
His supporters have alleged that senior Congress leaders M B Patil and Shivanand Patil went back on commitments made to him. They have also accused the party of treating the MLA unfairly. Further details on the reported resignation offer are awaited. The developments have added to the uncertainty surrounding the Karnataka cabinet expansion, with the ministerial list itself undergoing changes even as the swearing-in preparations were under way. Ends
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