Why Siddaramaiah didn't attend Cabinet swearing-in ceremony? DK Shivakumar responds
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday said senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah did not attend the state cabinet swearing-in ceremony because he was occupied with
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday said senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah did not attend the state cabinet swearing-in ceremony because he was occupied with his birthday engagements, dismissing speculation over his absence. "Today is his birthday, he was busy," Shivakumar told reporters when asked why Siddaramaiah skipped the ceremony. Addressing questions over the cabinet formation, the chief minister said there was no confusion within the Congress and stressed that every one of the party's 138 MLAs was eligible to become a minister.
Read Full Story "Our party has decided on the cabinet and we have all accepted the decision," he said, urging leaders who were left out to remain patient. Shivakumar recalled that he himself had remained out of the cabinet for a period during Siddaramaiah's previous tenure, while Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara had also spent around three years outside the ministry. "After all that, now I have become CM and he is Deputy CM. For everything, everybody should have patience," he said.
The chief minister said the government would try to accommodate those who could not be included in the cabinet. "Everyone wants to become a minister. Patience pays," he added. On the Cauvery water-sharing dispute, Shivakumar said Karnataka would proceed based on legal advice after Tamil Nadu approached the Supreme Court. He said the state had acted after consulting all political parties and was complying with the directions of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA). "TN has the right to go to the Supreme Court.
We have taken the decision after the all-party meeting. We are complying with CWMA orders. We respect the courts," he said. Responding to questions about Congress leader B. Nagendra, Shivakumar said cases had also been filed against him in the past. "I was also sent to jail and they have booked cases against me," he said. He also attributed the omission of Gayathri Shanthegowda's name from the cabinet list to "technical issues." Ends
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