Siddu video goes viral, Dr G Parameshwar offers more board posts to pacify him?

Bengaluru: Hours after Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, Siddaramaiah's video criticising party leaders for giving in to the demands of Chief Minister, H.D. Kumaraswamy's on presenting a fresh budget went viral, KPCC president, Dr G. Parameshwar on Sunday rushed to Mangaluru to placate the former.

Prior to leaving the city, Dr Parameshwar made a concerted effort to appease the former CM telling mediapersons that the state government was contemplating according cabinet minister status to the Co-ordination Committee chairman.

“This is nothing but an act by the CM and his deputy, Dr Parameshwar to extend the olive branch to Mr Siddaramaiah,” a senior Congress leader told this newspaper on the condition of anonymity.

The source added that Dr Parameshwar carried with him a list of nominees for the state-run boards and corporations to secure the former CM’s approval as part of the move to placate him.

“The two parties have more or less agreed on a formula to share board and corporation posts. The Congress may be given two thirds of the over 75 boards and corporations with Siddaramaiah likely to be asked to nominate his choice of legislators to these bodies,” the source explained.

The two parties have reportedly agreed to have MLAs who have won more their seats than twice, nominated to the boards and corporations. “This will placate the MLAs with disgruntled leaders like M.B. Patil, Satish Jarakiholi and Siddarmaiah himself likely to be asked to forward their list of supporters for these posts. It is not just these three leaders, there are many senior leaders pushing for nomination of their supporters.

As of now, it looks like Siddaramaiah will be able to nominate more of his supporters compared to any other party leader in the state,” the source quipped.