Bengaluru: Buoyed by the Congress party’s success in the just concluded Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council polls, Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah is likely to leave for New Delhi on Tuesday to hold the first round of discussions with party central leaders about the possibility of carrying out the much awaited cabinet reshuffle.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader in the Chief Minister's camp said, “Mr Siddaramaiah has prepared a list of eight to ten ministers who could be dropped and also those who could be inducted in their place.”
The source added that the Chief Minister was ready with the list and was awaiting the nod of party central leaders to take up the exercise. “Clarity on the Cabinet reshuffle will only emerge after Mr Siddaramaiah's scheduled visit to Delhi on Tuesday,” the source added.
Meanwhile, Congress general secretary and state Congress in-charge Digvijay Singh told reporters in Mysuru on Sunday that Cabinet expansion was the discretion of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He was in Myusuru to visit Chamundeswari temple atop the Chamundi hills.
Mr Singh also made it clear that the party would face the next Assembly elections under the leadership of Siddaramaiah. When asked about Mr Siddaramaiah’s declaration that he would not contest elections in future, Mr Singh said he had said this earlier too but he would not do so. To a question on a Dalit leader becoming Chief Minister, the Congress general secretary said, “The elected MLAs will choose their leader.”
