Bengaluru: Former minister and senior Congress legislator R. Ramalinga Reddy is unlikely to find a place in the cabinet during the expansion slated for Friday as the party has reportedly decided to induct independent MLAs into the ministry to strengthen the coalition government headed by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.
Going by sources, supporters of Mr Reddy and Sidlaghatta MLA V. Muniyappa met former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday night to demand a Cabinet berth for both men, but were turned down on the ground that the government had no choice but to induct the independent legislators into the Cabinet for its survival. They were, however, reportedly assured that both Mr Reddy and Mr Muniyappa would be considered during the next Cabinet expansion.
A section of Congress leaders is believed to be keen on Mr Reddy's entry into the Cabinet owing to his influence in the powerful Reddy community and in Bengaluru city. The former minister had recently made his displeasure clear with the party for its neglect of senior leaders like him and partiality to independent MLAs, who were till recently with the BJP.
Taken aback by his criticism, KPCC president Dinesh Gundurao, had met Mr Siddaramaiah to discuss Mr Reddy's inclusion in the Cabinet, but was informed that it would have to be kept on hold , according to sources. Mr Reddy said he had asked his followers not to meet any party leader on his behalf but they had gone ahead and met Mr Siddaramaiah , who told them it was not possible to induct him into the ministry this cabinet expansion. "I will not meet any leader seeking a cabinet berth," he added. The coalition partners are reportedly hell-bent on induction of the independent MLAs into the Cabinet to prevent the BJP from poaching them.
