Bengaluru: With no sign of the promised Cabinet expansion, disgruntled Congress legislators plan to form a pressure group to demand it, warning that their patience could soon run out.
Going by party sources, Mr Rahul Gandhi has temporarily put a hold on the cabinet expansion owing to the large number of aspirants. Aware that dissidence at this juncture could puncture the party's chances in the Lok Sabha poll, he is reportedly backing the appointment of legislators as chairmen of various boards and corporations.
Although this solution is unlikely to work with senior leaders like Ramalinga Reddy, HK Patil, and M B Patil, who held important portfolios in the previous government, the expansion is unlikely to be carried out until the Assembly elections are over or may even be put off till the Lok Sabha elections are over.
But it appears the legislators are unwilling to wait this long. Pointing out that the high command had promised a Cabinet rejig after the three Lok Sabha and two assembly bypolls, they say they cannot now wait for the five assembly polls to be held. "We are aware of the carrot and stick policy of the party and will show what we are made of in days to come," they warn.
A senior Congress legislator laments his dream of making it to the cabinet anytime soon seems to be fading with state leaders unwilling to remind Congress president, Rahul Gandhi about it as he is busy with the assembly elections. Another legislator complains that many first- time and influential legislators have made it to the cabinet leaving seniors in the lurch. "We too are concerned about the party, but there is a limit to our patience. Once we cross it, no one can stop us," he adds.
