<p>Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that the Congress co-ordination committee would decide on the expansion of the State Cabinet on August 26. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Speaking to reporters in Bangalore on Tuesday, the chief minister said that the party high command would take the final decision on the expansion of the Cabinet after the co-ordination committee meeting.<br />He also expressed confidence that Congress would win bypolls to Bellary Rural, Chikodi-Sadalaga and Shikaripura Assembly seats. <br /><br />He said that the party workers were actively taking part in the campaign for byelection. <br />“I do not know on what basis the BJP is claiming that it would win all the three Assembly seats,” Siddaramaiah said.<br /><br />Allegation rubbished<br /><br />The chief minister rubbished JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda’s allegation that he was trying to divide the JD(S) by taking some of the legislators to the Congress’ fold. <br /><br />Asked why the JD(S) MLAs Zameer Ahmed and Cheluvarayaswamy met him recently, he said: “If MLAs meet a chief minister can that be construed as an exercise to split a political party? Their arrival coincided with my departure to the airport. So, I suggested them to travel with me to the airport. <br /><br />It is a fact that we discussed about the elections. A desperate Deve Gowda has now alleged that the MLAs campaigned for the Congress,” he said. <br /><br />Replying to a question, Siddaramaiah said that none of the JD(S) legislators had expressed their desire to join the Congress party and the Congress too has not invited anyone.<br /></p>
<p>Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that the Congress co-ordination committee would decide on the expansion of the State Cabinet on August 26. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Speaking to reporters in Bangalore on Tuesday, the chief minister said that the party high command would take the final decision on the expansion of the Cabinet after the co-ordination committee meeting.<br />He also expressed confidence that Congress would win bypolls to Bellary Rural, Chikodi-Sadalaga and Shikaripura Assembly seats. <br /><br />He said that the party workers were actively taking part in the campaign for byelection. <br />“I do not know on what basis the BJP is claiming that it would win all the three Assembly seats,” Siddaramaiah said.<br /><br />Allegation rubbished<br /><br />The chief minister rubbished JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda’s allegation that he was trying to divide the JD(S) by taking some of the legislators to the Congress’ fold. <br /><br />Asked why the JD(S) MLAs Zameer Ahmed and Cheluvarayaswamy met him recently, he said: “If MLAs meet a chief minister can that be construed as an exercise to split a political party? Their arrival coincided with my departure to the airport. So, I suggested them to travel with me to the airport. <br /><br />It is a fact that we discussed about the elections. A desperate Deve Gowda has now alleged that the MLAs campaigned for the Congress,” he said. <br /><br />Replying to a question, Siddaramaiah said that none of the JD(S) legislators had expressed their desire to join the Congress party and the Congress too has not invited anyone.<br /></p>
