Bengaluru: The Congress party, a partner in the new coalition government with the Janata Dal (S), seems to have decided to induct 17 or 18 ministers into the H.D. Kumaraswamy cabinet for now and has finalised 10 names. All the seventeen or eighteen will take the oath of secrecy at the swearing in ceremony to be held at Raj Bhavan at 2.12 pm on Wednesday afternoon with the full list likely to be revealed only before the swearing-in ceremony.
AICC president, Rahul Gandhi seems to have decided to do away with seasoned leaders like R.V. Deshpande, R. Ramalinga Reddy and H.K. Patil. The AICC president who in the presence of former CM Siddaramaiah, KPCC president, Dr G. Parameshwar and AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal finalised the names, reportedly favoured some of the loyalists of Mr Siddaramaiah for induction into the cabinet. Mr Gandhi also decided to overhaul the KPCC by bringing in a new face, most likely Dinesh Gundu Rao by elevating him from KPCC working president to KPCC president.
Those who seem to have got Mr Gandhi's nod for induction into the cabinet include D.K. Shivakumar, M.B. Patil, K.J. George, R. Roshan Baig, U.T. Khader, Priyank Kharge, Rajashekhara Patil Humnabad, Roopa Shashidhar, H.M. Revanna and Satish Jarkiholi. Mr Krishna Byre Gowda too may get in, sources said.
Even though the party president has finalised the names of only seven or eight new ministers, the Congress seems to have conveyed the message to the MLAs to be sworn in as ministers, to come to Bengaluru. Their names may be disclosed on Wednesday morning.
Mr Gundu Rao a Brahmin may take over the party mantle and Mr Gandhi will soon decide whether to appoint a DY CM from the Vokkaliga community or Lingayat community. If Mr Gandhi decides to make a Vokkaliga KPCC working president, former minister M. Krishnappa may be the choice while Mr Eshwar Khandre may be the working president if Mr Gandhi decides to go for a Lingayat.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader on the condition of anonymity said that the party leaders in groups held discussions separately and individually with MLAs and their supporters in order to convince them not to rebel against the party.
“The performance of the government is seen as a crucial factor in determining the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition’s fortunes at the hustings in 2019. It also has broader implications for the rest of the country in view of the opposition show of strength at Mr Kumaraswamy's oath taking ceremony. As a first step, the party is looking at providing a stable government, with the focus on 2019,” the source stated.
According to this source Mr Gandhi is also using the opportunity to review last month's assembly election, in which the Siddaramaiah-led government was voted out.
Though a delegation has come to New Delhi from Karnataka, which includes the party's senior leaders, Mr Rahul Gandhi is having a one-on-one interaction with many of them, source said.
Mr Shivakumar is likely to get the energy portfolio in the coalition government, sources said.
JD(S) on cloud nine
JD(S) has finalised the names of nine ministers (including N. Mahesh of BSP) for the swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday. Entitled to a total 12 ministerial berths including that of CM, the party will keep three berths vacant.
The list of ministers of the JD(S) who will be sworn in on Wednesday are Mr H.D. Revanna (Holenarsipur), Mr S.R. Mahesh (KR Nagar), Mr G.T. Deve Gowda (Chamundeshwari), Mr C.S. Puttaraju (Melukote), Mr Satyanarayana (Sira), Mr Bandeppa Kashempur (Bidar), Mr Venkat Rao Nadagouda (Sindhanur)and Mr Raja Venkatappa Naik(Manvi).
Gowda buries hatchet, wants Energy for DKS?
Former minister and Vokkaliga strongman D.K. Shivakumar, who had aggressively lobbied for the post of Deputy CM in the H.D. Kumaraswamy government and the power portfolio too, is likely to settle for another prized portfolio like Bengaluru Development or Water Resources- with the JD(S) unwilling to allow a second Deputy CM from the Congress.
Mr Shivakumar was keen on becoming minister handling an important portfolio and KPCC chief too but top Congress leaders are opposing this.
There are reports that JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda is willing to make a "big sacrifice" by offering the power ministry to Shivakumar provided he can convince his party leadership to allot the ministry to him!
