Meeting on Cabinet expansion deferred as Mallikarjun Kharge is tied up with family emergency
The much-awaited discussion on the Cabinet expansion by Congress leaders in Delhi remained inconclusive on Thursday owing to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge being unavailable for
The much-awaited discussion on the Cabinet expansion by Congress leaders in Delhi remained inconclusive on Thursday owing to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge being unavailable for meetings. The list for Cabinet expansion could be finalised only by next week. The State leaders, including Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, are learnt to have given their preferences to Central leaders. Kharge had to return to Bengaluru on Thursday owing to a family emergency, party sources said. “Since the meeting with Mr. Kharge did not take place, the discussion is incomplete. Given the nature of emergency, it was felt it was not appropriate to discuss the matter with him,” sources said.
On Thursday, the Chief Minister, accompanied by the former Chief Minister, and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president B.K. Hariprasad met the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. Congress general secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala was also present. Though one source termed it as a “courtesy visit”, another source close to the Chief Minister said that the list with preferences has been given to the leaders. Sources said that the list is likely to be discussed with Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal. The three leaders from the State are expected to return to Bengaluru on Friday. Of the 34 available Cabinet berths, including that of the Chief Minister, 13 Ministers have been sworn in last month.
As against the available 20 berths, over 50 aspirants are lobbying for posts. Sources have indicated that all the 20 berths may not be filled. Young faces “Multiple caste and regional combinations have to be worked out. The Central leaders have indicated that young faces within the same caste and regional combination should be accommodated since seniors have been inducted in the Cabinet already,” said a leader. Sources also indicated that there is possibility of a rejig of the portfolios for some Ministers, who are not happy with the allocation. The impending election to five corporations in Greater Bengaluru Authority is also weighing heavily on the Cabinet expansion, sources said.
While the decision on the post of the Speaker is yet to be made, discussion on who could replace Basavaraj Horatti as the Chairman of the Legislative Council is yet to take place. “Though many were wary of occupying the Speaker’s post in the past, there is some kind of a race for that post too now, as these leaders have realised that they may not make it to the Cabinet,” another leader said.
The BriefWire