Cong leaders press for Cabinet reshuffle

With Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress president G Parameshwara arriving in the national capital on Wednesday to discuss with party high command the expansion of the state cabinet, a section of state Congress leaders has begun to press for a total reshuffle  to “overhaul” the State government.

Over 40 legislators, who have landed here to press for their own case for ministerial berths, also demanded that a mere expansion would not infuse energy in the government.  

“With the several “inefficient” ministers in the current Cabinet, it is better to make total reshuffle by inducting more efficient leaders”, former minister K B Koliwad told reporters. Koliwad, who has been lobbying for ministerial berth, also said that earlier around 40 MLAs have given their memorandum to the chief minister to take up reshuffle instead of expansion.

Malaka Reddy, who had once lead a delegation of MLAs from north Karnataka to the national capital to meet party top brass seeking representation to his region, said that the party should take the cognisance of contribution of north Karnataka MLAs for the party victory in various polls while reshuffling the Cabinet.

Several senior leaders including A Manju, Veeranna Mattikatti, Santhosh Lad, R V Devraj and Vinay Kulkarni also met party top leaders including Karnataka incharge General Secretary Digvijay Singh, Oscar Fernandes and B K Hariprasad pleading their cases.

With the four vacant berths in the Cabinet, the Congress high command is likely to allow Siddaramaiah to induct three leaders as ministers instead of full-fledged reshuffle as demanded by many. Though initially party planned for total reshuffle after the recently held by-poll, it dropped the proposals fearing dissident activities by disgruntled leaders.