Bengaluru: It is now almost certain that the state cabinet expansion will take place sometime in August first or second week. If there is no reshuffle, two more leaders are likely to join the cabinet. If there is a reshuffle, then five or six leaders will join the cabinet and two or three ministers are likely to be shown the door, said sources.
With Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, Dr G. Parameshwar sworn in as Legislative Council member on Thursday and almost sure to be inducted, the cabinet expansion will take place in the first or second week of August, said sources.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader said, "Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly suggested to party central leaders that he wants to keep at least two of the four cabinet berths vacant.” The source added that the KPCC president was lobbying hard to secure the number two slot in Mr Siddaramiah's cabinet and has been demanding the deputy CM's post. "As of now no central leader has given any concrete assurance on creation of the Dy CM's post to Dr Parameshwar but they have assured him that they would take care of his 'concerns' of being on par with Mr Siddaramaiah.
Therefore, the expansion is certain to happen in the first week of August," the source disclosed.
The source added that in the event of Mr Siddaramaiah opting for a cabinet reshuffle exercise, he might delay the exercise by a week or two and is likely to drop Housing Minister, M.H. Ambareesh, Revenue minister, V. Srinivasprasad and Horticulture minister, Shamanur Shivashankarappa on 'health grounds'.
"With Dr Parameshwar's inclusion in the cabinet, the Dalit presence may increase and so Mr Siddaramaiah may drop Mr Srinivasaprasad, who is from Mysore district and a powerful Dalit leader. By dropping him, Mr Siddaramaiah will be able to bargain hard to get his supporter, H.M Revanna into the cabinet. Mr Revanna is a Kuruba like Siddaramaiah. As for the veteran, Mr Shamanur Shivashankarappa, the berth he vacates will in all probability be given to his son, S. S, Mallikarjuna," the source claimed.
In a cabinet expansion undertaken a few months ago, Mr Siddaramaiah had inducted Congress bigwigs D.K. Shivakumar and Roshan Baig.
