Bengaluru: With pressure mounting on the Congress party leadership, the party high command has given a 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, out of which the party has decided to fill four seats. During a discussion with the former chief minister and Chairman of Coordination Committee, Siddaramaiah and KPCC President and Deputy Chief Minister Dr. G Parameshwara, KPCC In-charge K C Venugopal on July 1, has communicated the message of the party high command to induct four ministers into Kumaraswamy cabinet.
Aspirants have exerted pressure on the party high command to fill vacant posts as soon as possible. Even state leaders have reportedly requested the party high command to fill the vacant seats to douse the dissident activities within the party.
Congress senior leader and MLA of Yamakanamaradi Constituency, Satish Jarkiholi told NewsKarnataka.com that out of the six vacant seats of party quota, the high command had given green signal to fill four. After the budget session, four new ministers will take an oath, he said.
Caste and region equations could be given prominence during the second round of cabinet expansion. Induction of party MLA of Babaleshwar constituency M B Patil to the cabinet was reportedly cleared by the party. AICC President Rahul Gandhi has assured his induction into the cabinet when Patil met him at Delhi recently. Even Congress high command had been a bit worried after a series of parlays by Patil with ministerial aspirants.
Congress has faced criticism for not giving representation to Lingayat, Kuruba, Reddy and ST community in the first round of expansion. Thus, it could give priority to all three communities this time. Along with M B Patil, Gadag MLA and senior leader H K Patil may get a chance in the Cabinet. If party elevates H K Patil to the cabinet, another senior and BTM Layout MLA Ramalinga Reddy, who incidentally belongs to the Reddy community may be considered for the post of KPCC President.
From the Kuruba community, the party could 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 measure, it has decided to induct four ministers, Jarkiholi said and added that he was not an aspirant for the minister’s post.
