Congress Cabinet Expansion Raises Questions, Coastal Karnataka Leaders Left Out

Mangaluru: While Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar took oath as the minister along with eight cabinet colleagues, the fact that none of them were from Coastal Karnataka has come as a question to many in the Congress circle.

R.V. Deshpande is one of the senior MLAs in Karnataka. He represents the Haliyal constituency in Uttara Kannada district. UT Khader, from Mangaluru, who had served as the minister in Siddaramaiah and Kumaraswamy government was also the deputy leader of the opposition in the last term. Congress workers expected these two names to be on the first list of the cabinet but were surprised to see the names of these leaders missing.

The government has decided to make R.V Deshpande the pro-tem speaker. It is not yet clear if the government would want to continue him as the speaker or give him a cabinet berth.

However, sources told Deccan Chronicle that the Cabinet expansion is likely to take place in a week or two when leaders like UT Khader and Laxman Savadi are likely to be inducted.

“The names of 28 were discussed of which 8 were finalized. The remaining names will be finalised and will be inducted in a week or two or after the session. At present the government has given representation to all the communities,” a senior leader said.

Sources said that many leaders, especially those who defeated the sitting Ministers of the Bommai government and also those who won the seat for Congress in BJP strongholds are eagerly waiting for the party to induct them into the cabinet.