'Expansion tactic to cover up dissidence'

CPI alleges CM of abusing power

He stated in a press release that the Constitution ensures power to chief ministers with an objective to make cabinet formation free from political motivations. However, he alleged, “Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has misused the power entrusted on him to tame his own opponents in the party.” Yeddyurappa himself had blamed openly that BJP MLAs were showing hunger for power through protests and allegations, he added.

Lingayats, Vokkaligas and Brahmins overpower the 33 member cabinet. There are only 13 ministers, who belong to backward, minority and Dalit communties. Though Bangalore, Davanagere, Bellary, Mysore and Dharwad districts were given prominence in the cabinet formation, 12 districts in the State did not get representation in the cabinet, he pointed out.

The Chief Minister himself is holding six portfolios with him. At the same time, Ministers Katta Subramanya Naidu, Suresh Kumar and J Krishna Palemar were given three portfolios each, he said adding that six ministers in the cabinet have two portfolios each.

BJP MLA Shankaralinge Gowda and Minister Mumthaz Ali Khan have already blamed that the cabinet reshuffling was done based on the influence of ‘suitcase,’ Lokesh said. “Though Shankaralinge Gowda was elected to the Assembly four times consecutively, he has not been given a cabinet berth. In this context, the hue and cry made by MLAs M P Appachu Ranjan and C T Ravi shows only their selfishness,” he charged.

Lokesh pointed out that the Chief Minister’s promise of cabinet berth for dissidents in the next expansion is a clear indication that there is a political threat to the government.  “Induction of new faces in the cabinet, expulsion of some ministers, Yeddyurappa - Reddy brothers tussle and intervention of mutt seers are shameful political developments,” he added.