Karnataka to get two more berths in ministry

In an obvious bid to revive the party in Karnataka, the Congress leadership on Monday decided to induct two more ministers from the State into the UPA government, taking the State’s representation in the Union government to four.

Senior Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge and K H Muniyappa are set to join the Union government as Cabinet minister and minister of state respectively in a ceremony to be held at Rashtrapathi Bhavan on Thursday morning. Former chief ministers S M Krishna and M Veerappa Moily had taken the oath of office on May 22.

Karnataka’s representation at four is seen as the Congress leadership’s attempt to strengthen the party in the State. After losing the Assembly elections, the party was routed in the byelections for eight Assembly seats. It was once again trounced in the Lok Sabha poll. The party could win only six out of the 28 seats.

It was in this backdrop that the Congress leadership decided to induct four ministers from Karnataka, which will undoubtedly give a boost to the party. This should also put an end to the contention that the Centre was giving a step-motherly treatment to the State.

The turn of events in former KPCC president Mallikarjuna Kharge’s political career should come as a relief to him. He was reluctant when the party high command asked him to contest the LS polls. The party had also reportedly promised to induct him as a Cabinet minister. However, when his name did not figure in the first list of ministers, Kharge was perturbed, but did not lose hope.

Kharge received a phone call from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday morning inviting him to join the government.

Speaking to reporters, an overjoyed Kharge thanked both Sonia and Singh for reposing faith in him. He also promised to work for the welfare of the State and the party.

K H Muniyappa, who was minister of state for road transport and highways in the previous UPA dispensation, was in a dilemma whether he would make it, as Kharge, a fellow Dalit, was to be a senior minister. The six-time MP from Kolar had lobbied hard for a berth. “Whatever the prime minister and the Congress president decide, we should accept”, he said, adding the leadership had recognised his work as a Union minister of state in the previous government.

As regards another senior MP from the State, Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernandes, the party decided to utilise his services for the organisation. A point man of the Gandhi family, Fernandes is part of the party’s inner circle and plays an important role in its decision making process.