Bengaluru: With immense pressure mounting on the Congress party leadership, the party high command has given green signal to induct four ministers into H.D. Kumaraswamy cabinet, soon after the Budget session.
At present Congress has six vacant seats from its quota, in which party has decided to fill four seats. During a discussion held recently with former Chief Minister, Chairman of Coordination Committee Siddaramaiah and deputy Chief Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara and KPCC in-charge K.C.Venugopal has communicated the message of party high command to induct four ministers into Kumaraswamy cabinet.
Aspirants have pressurised the party high command to fill vacant posts as soon as possible. Even state leaders have reportedly requested the party high command to do the same to douse the dissident activities within the party.
Congress senior leader and MLA of Yamakanamaradi Constituency, Satish Jarakiholi confirmed the same to Newskarnataka.com.
Castes and regions will be considered in the second round of expansion. Induction of party MLA of Babaleshwar constituency M.B. Patil to the cabinet was cleared by the party. AICC President Rahul Gandhi has assured him that he will be inducted into the Cabinet, when the latter met him at Delhi recently. Even Congress high command, it is said has been a bit worried after series of parlays by Patil over ministerial berth issue.
Party has faced criticism for not giving representation to Lingayat, Kuruba, Reddy and ST community in first round of expansion. Thus, it will give priority to all three communities this time. Along with M.B. Patil, Gadag MLA and senior leader H.K. Patil and BTM Layout MLA Ramalinga Reddy stand a chance in the Cabinet expansion.
From Kuruba community, party will prefer senior leader and Kundgol MLA C.S. Shivalli. From ST quota, MLAs of Bellary district, E. Tukaram and B. Nagendra are in the race.
Party high command is unlikely to postpone its decision of giving permission for cabinet expansion. As a damage control measures, it has been decided to induct four ministers, Jarakiholi said and added that he is not an aspirant for minister post.
