Bengaluru: Four new faces are likely to make it to the cabinet on Wednesday as part of efforts by leaders of Congress and JD(S) to nip dissidence in the bud and avoid more embarrassment to the coalition, post the rout in Lok Sabha elections.
Most leaders of both parties feel that induction of four prominent disgruntled legislators could help take the wind out of the sails of those who are likely to destabilize the year-old government by jumping ship and joining the BJP. The swearing-in ceremony, to fill three vacancies, will be held on Wednesday, depending on the schedule of Governor Vajubhai Vala, according to sources in Congress.
Sources said four disgruntled legislators who are likely to be accommodated in the cabinet are: Former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, who has been meeting BJP leaders at various cities since the day he was dropped from the ministry late in 2018, R. Shankar a Kuruba who is an independent, Nagesh, also an independent elected to the Assembly from Mulbagal, and Nagendra, also belonging to Nayaka community. The name of police officer-actor-politician, B.C. Patil, seems set to make to the cabinet, sources added.
Sources said an expansion at this juncture would end all speculation about longevity of the government.
Interestingly, the leaders are also pinning their hopes on the exit of state unit president B S Yeddyurappa as he has been playing a crucial role in trying to get a dozen or more legislators of Congress to switch over to his party.
As a last resort, the coalition partners could attempt a major surgery by dropping senior ministers and replacing them with more new faces in the ministry and extend the longevity of the coalition government.
