LS bypoll victory triggers lobbying for Cabinet berths

Victory in Bangalore Rural and Mandya Lok Sabha bypolls has unleased a spur of political activities in the Congress.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President G Parameshwara and Kanakapura MLA D K Shivakumar left for New Delhi on Sunday afternoon, apparently to get a green signal from the party high command to take up Cabinet expansion.
Both the leaders have made it clear that they are ministerial aspirants. G Parameshwara on Sunday reiterated that he was an aspirant for the post of deputy chief minister.

The leaders at the same time have said it was for the party high command to take a final decision and that they would abide by the same.  The two are likely to meet AICC General Secretary Karnataka in-charge Dijvijay Singh, AICC president Sonia Gandhi in a day or two.

The two leaders are likely to explain to the party high command their contribution in getting Congress candidates D K Suresh and Ramya elected from Bangalore Rural and Mandya Lok Sabha constituencies respectively and that they be rewarded for the same. Before leaving for the national capital, Shivakumar along with his brother D K Suresh met former chief minister S M Krishna at the latter’s residence in Bangalore.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will also leave for New Delhi on Monday evening to meet Central party leaders and discuss the political developments in the State, the party’s electoral success in Lok Sabha bypolls and the completion of 100 days of his government.
D K Suresh and Ramya will take oath as MPs in the Lok Sabha at 11 am on Monday.

No ministry expansion for now: CM

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said that he would not expand his ministry in the near future.

It is up to the Congress high command to decide whether the Kanakapura MLA D K Shivakumar should be given a Cabinet berth, the chief minister told reporters at the helipad here prior to launching various development works.

Chairpersons to various boards and corporations would be appointed soon, he added. Siddaramaiah said the voters have rejected the ‘unholy’ alliance between the JD(S) and the BJP during the Lok Sabha byelections from Mandya and Bangalore Rural constituencies, the results of which were announced on Saturday. The Congress wrested both the seats from the JD(S).

As the ex-MPs from these two seats, H D Kumaraswamy and N Cheluvarayaswamy, had not discharged their duties effectively, the voters had supported the Congress in the bypolls, he opined.