Bengaluru: With many ministerial aspirants breathing down his neck, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has decided to put off an expansion of cabinet by at least a month.
The Chief Minister, who met Congress president Sonia Gandhi, vice president Rahul Gandhi and several senior central leaders of the party during his two-day visit to New Delhi, has chosen to maintain status quo till the end of Dasara festivities, but his confidants hinted that he could delay induction of new ministers further but could appoint some ministerial hopefuls as chairpersons of state-owned boards and corporations shortly. “It (a new deadline) is for public consumption.
The new deadline is only to overcome pressure from these aspirants. Now, they have to accept top posts in boards and corporations,” sources close to Mr. Siddaramaiah told Deccan Chronicle. Sources said the Chief Minister put off induction of new ministers for two reasons. One, his aversion to creation of the post of deputy chief minister, a long-standing demand of KPCC president Dr. G. Parameshwar. Two, Mr. Siddaramaiah himself wanted status quo for some more time.
Sources in the party said with a win in two of the three Assembly seats for which bypolls were held on August 21, Mr. Siddaramaiah has consolidated his position in the party and even won the support of Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka, Digvijay Singh. Mr. Singh said he would leave it to Mr. Siddaramaiah on when to expand the cabinet. Sources said the Chief Minister also put off a reshuffle of his ministry as he could continue his control over several departments.
