Bangalore: The government is yet to seek Governor Vajubhai R Vala’s appointment for Cabinet expansion and Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has said that he is waiting for a green signal from the Congress to go ahead with the proposed cabinet expansion.
Even though the Congress repeatedly stressed that the cabinet expansion or reshuffle will take place on December 22, many in the political circle feel that it will happen only after the Lok Sabha elections, as the Congress has divided opinions. This rumour also coincides with the cryptic response of the chief minister.
During an interaction with the media at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, the chief minister told “The major partner is the Congress — it all depends on the decision the party arrives at. We (JD-S camp) are ready. There is no problem in my party, as we are all united.”
The Chief Minister told the media persons that he will write to the Governor seeking his appointment for the Cabinet expansion only after he gets confirmation from his senior partner – the Congress.
The Chief Minister told that the government wants to complete the expansion and it is for this purpose the Congress leaders have gone to Delhi.
There are eight posts available in the 34 member cabinet, out of which six are for the Congress and two are for the JD(S). In the Congress party, there are about a dozen leaders who are ministerial aspirants and are camping in Delhi to pressurize the party leadership for the post in their favour
The Congress leaders, including its legislature party leader Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dinesh Gundu Rao flew to New Delhi on Thursday to hold talks with their party president Rahul Gandhi to obtain his approval to expand the Cabinet and finalize the portfolios.
