CM to visit Delhi on Sunday to finalise induction of woman legislator in Cabinet, allocation of portfolios
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is all set to visit Delhi again on Sunday to seek the Congress high command’s approval for filling the vacancy in
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is all set to visit Delhi again on Sunday to seek the Congress high command’s approval for filling the vacancy in the State Cabinet by accommodating a woman legislator, allocating portfolios to 19 Ministers and finding ways to pacify former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is reportedly upset over the denial of a Cabinet berth to Basavaraj N. Shivannavar, Byadgi MLA. The Chief Minister’s Delhi visit comes days before the Monsoon Session of the Karnataka Legislature, scheduled to begin on August 13. He is keen to resolve the differences within the party and ensure that the Congress Legislature Party presents a united front when the Opposition mounts attacks on the government during the session.
Meanwhile, a Minister said on Saturday that portfolios were likely to be allocated on Monday. Minor reshuffle Shivakumar on Saturday said he would go to Delhi but did not specify the day. With several senior leaders lobbying for key portfolios, Mr. Shivakumar is expected to seek the high command’s intervention on the induction of one or two Ministers through a minor Cabinet reshuffle and the finalisation of departments. Sources indicated that Mr. Siddaramaiah may skip the Monsoon Session if his candidate, Mr. Shivannavar, is denied a Cabinet berth. Late on Friday night, Mr. Shivakumar met Mr. Siddaramaiah at the latter’s residence in Bengaluru. The two leaders held a closed-door meeting and are understood to have discussed ways to pacify disgruntled senior leaders before the Assembly session.
Speaker issue Shivakumar also visited the residence of former Minister T.B. Jayachandra, who has agreed to serve as pro-tem Speaker until the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. G.S. Patil and A.S. Ponnanna are expected to be elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively. Jayachandra had earlier rejected the pro-tem Speaker’s post following the denial of a Cabinet berth. He, however, said the issue had now been resolved and that he would resume his duties as Speaker. Meeting seer Meanwhile, M. Krishnappa, Vijayanagara MLA, and his son, Priya Krishna, MLA, have continued to demand a ministerial position for one of them. The Chief Minister appears reluctant to antagonise Mr. Krishnappa, a fellow Vokkaliga leader, particularly in Bengaluru, ahead of elections to the five city corporations.
Earlier on Saturday, Ministers N. Cheluvarayaswamy and H.C. Balakrishna met Vokkaliga seer Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji and sought his blessings. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Cheluvarayaswamy said it was not proper for one Minister to be dropped to accommodate another, apparently indicating his opposition to dropping Mr. Balakrishna to make way for Mr. Krishnappa. Balakrishna, meanwhile, continued to maintain that he was ready to sacrifice his ministerial position in the interest of the party, apparently hoping that such a gesture would yield political dividends in the coming days.
The BriefWire