Bangalore: In a tactical move, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seems to have won over his critics and opponents who were trying hard to get the high command’s green signal for cabinet expansion and revamp of boards and corporations. Siddaramaiah has been consistently maintaining that there was no need for a cabinet expansion or the reconstitution of boards| corporations.
Siddaramaiah along with KPCC president, Dr G. Parameshwar met AICC general secretary in charge for Karnataka, Digvijay Singh and another AICC general secretary and party central election committee chief, Madhusudan Mistry in New Delhi. Surprisingly, the Chief Minister held one-on-one meetings with Mistry and Singh before Dr Parameshwar joined them.
Sources in the party said that though there was pressure on Siddaramaiah to expand the cabinet and revamp the boards and corporations, the latter seemed to have managed to withstand the pressure by convincing central leaders that any attempt to carry out such an exercise would further harm the unity within the party. He however, vaguely said he may consider looking into the board and corporation appointments after Sankranti— ie. after January 15.
Party central leaders have advised Dr Parameshwar to reshuffle the office bearers. "Those who are not effective should be dropped and the party should strictly adhere to the one-man-one-post principle.
The party need not be lenient towards those who are holding two posts. Those who are holding two posts should be given an opportunity to select one, either in the party or in the government," sources said quoting the leaders.
Singh told the leaders that he may come down to the city on January 2 when the state election committee and state co-ordination committee meetings could be held. Mistry reportedly explained the yardstick to be adopted by the party state unit to select candidates for Parliament elections. Siddaramaiah returned to city while Dr Parameshwar stayed back in Delhi to attend the PCC chiefs meeting.
