Former Chief Minister and coordination committee chairman Siddaramaiah joining the legislature session in Belagavi will be delayed by another day because of his last-minute plan to attend the swearing-in ceremonies of the Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan Chief Ministers on Monday.
This means Mr. Siddaramaiah, who was in Malaysia last week when the session began, will arrive in the border town just before Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on Tuesday. What awaits him there is the task of mollifying a disgruntled flock of Congress legislators as more trouble seems to be brewing within the party, especially among senior and north Karnataka legislators. Some of them have openly expressed unhappiness with his style of functioning.
While the dissent and threats of revolt appear to have subsided, many are doubtful about the State Cabinet being expanded as promised on December 22. What is adding to the turmoil is the Congress’ surprise choice of K. Prathapchandra Shetty to the post of Legislative Council chairman in Mr. Siddaramaiah’s absence. Senior Congress leader S.R. Patil, who was his pick for the post, was dropped to accommodate Mr. Shetty.
Sources in the party said Mr. Siddaramaiah was likely to face a vociferous section of the old guard in the CLP. Several senior MLAS, who are already upset with being neglected by the party, are said to be irked by Mr. Siddaramaiah’s “indifference” towards lobbying for seniors during discussions on Cabinet expansion.
Legislators’ plan
A group of senior MLAs, including Ramalinga Reddy, R. Roshan Baig and M.T.B. Nagaraj, and H.M. Revanna, MLC, recently met in a private hotel in Belagavi and decided to pour out their woes during the CLP meeting. “We are hurt and upset with the party leaders, including Mr. Siddaramaiah, for ignoring our seniority. Some of us are even more senior than the former CM, but our candidature for ministerial berths is not being discussed at all. We want a leader who will take along all legislators and not just support one group to head the CLP. The party high command should realise this before it is too late,” said a senior MLA from Bengaluru.
This disgruntled group is apprehensive the Cabinet will be expanded on December 22, as announced by Mr. Siddaramaiah. “We are doubtful as there are rumours that it may be postponed again. Now that he announced [the date], he is in a fix as he will be answerable if it does not happen,” said another disgruntled MLA.
However, rubbishing reports of any dissent, All-India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in charge of Karnataka K.C. Venugopal told The Hindu that all this was mere speculation. “There is no dissent of any sort within the party. These reports have been there ever since the government was formed. You all know nothing has happened so far. These are false and baseless reports. The party high command is aware of what is going on. Nothing will happen without discussion,” he said.
Asked if Cabinet expansion was likely to be put off again, he said: “We cannot be repeating again and again that it will happen as announced. It has been announced it will happen on December 22, and it will happen.”
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gundu Rao also reiterated that the Cabinet would be expanded as promised. He said all issues related to the expansion and appointment to boards and corporations would be discussed in detail at the CLP meeting.
