After several days of consultation, the two-member Karnataka Cabinet headed by H.D. Kumaraswamy is all set for expansion on Wednesday.
Governor Vajubhai Vala will administer the oath of office to the new ministers at the Raj Bhavan at 2.12 p.m.
As per an agreement of June 1, the Congress will get 22 ministerial berths and the Janata Dal (Secular) 12.
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Sources said the Congress, which has a long list of ministerial aspirants, is likely to induct 16 or 17 legislators into the ministry and keep four or five berths vacant. This is part of a strategy to meet any exigencies of dissidence that may crop up after the expansion.
The JD(S), too, has decided not to fill all its Cabinet berths in one go.
State Congress leaders held discussions with party president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Tuesday to finalise the names of the legislators to be sworn in as ministers.
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Before meeting Mr. Gandhi, State Congress chief and Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara held a one-on-one talks with several ministerial aspirants. “A balance will be maintained by giving representation to major communities, regions, and districts,” he said.
MLCs to join Cabinet
Both experienced and new faces would be inducted into the Cabinet. “A couple of MLCs too will be inducted into the ministry so that they can be considered for the post of leader of the House in the Council,” he said.
Several senior leaders such as D.K. Shivakumar, H.K. Patil, M.B. Patil, Roshan Baig, Dinesh Gundu Rao, and R.V. Deshpande have been camping in New Delhi and lobbying hard for Cabinet berths. Sources said the Congress has decided to give more or less equal representation to the Vokkaliga, Lingayat and Backward Class communities. A woman MLA is also likely to be inducted.
Besides Mr. Parameshwara, coordination committee chairman and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka K.C. Venugopal, and Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge held talks with Mr. Gandhi and discussed the Cabinet expansion, portfolio allocation, and probable candidates for the post of next president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. Mr. Parameshwara has decided to step down from the post after serving for over eight years.
JD(S) struggling to finalise ministers
With many aspirants for Cabinet berths, JD(S) leaders are struggling to finalise the candidates to be sworn in as ministers.
According to sources in the party, names of senior leaders such as Basavaraj Horatti, A.T. Ramaswamy, and A.H. Vishwanath are unlikely to figure in the tentative list being finalised by the leaders. The legislators figuring in the list are H.D. Revanna, G.T. Deve Gowda, N. Mahesh (BSP), D.C. Tammanna, C.S. Puttaraju, Bandeppa Kashampur, Venkata Rao Nadagouda, S.R. Srinivas (Gubbi), and H.K. Kumaraswamy.
Earlier in the day, Mr. H.D. Kumaraswamy said that at least nine MLAS would be inducted in the first phase of Cabinet expansion. Two seats would be kept vacant for future expansion. He ruled out any differences among party MLAs over the matter. Party president H.D. Deve Gowda had been given total freedom on the next phase of Cabinet expansion, he added.
During a meeting of legislators, Mr. Gowda advised MLAs to focus on providing good governance.
However, senior party legislators, including MLCs, have expressed disappointment in not being considered for Cabinet posts.
Revanna settles for just PWD
Mr. Revanna, who was firm on getting both Energy and Public Works Department (PWD) — has settled for just PWD. The issue was sorted out after a three-hour meeting with Mr. Deve Gowda, sources said.
It is said the the JD(S) wanted to swap the Energy portfolio with Bengaluru Development, which has been given to the Congress. However, it is yet to receive a response from its alliance partner on the matter.