<p>Bengaluru: The ruling Congress is likely to face pressure on reshuffling the Siddaramaiah Cabinet after May 20, when his government completes two years in office.</p>.<p>The much-discussed Cabinet reshuffle -- dropping sitting ministers to make way for fresh faces - was slated to happen in October-November last year. However, it is said that Siddaramaiah was not keen on the exercise at that time. </p>.<p class="bodytext">After the Hosapete event on May 20 to mark two years of the Congress government, ministerial aspirants are expected to mount pressure on the party. Government chief whips Saleem Ahmed and Ashok Pattan are among those expecting ministerial positions.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It is said that senior lawmakers Basavaraj Rayareddi, T B Jayachandra, B R Patil, N Y Gopalkrishna, C S (Appaji) Nadagouda, Tanveer Sait, M Krishnappa (Vijayanagar), T Raghumurthy, Abbayya Prasad, Laxman Savadi and B K Hariprasad are willing to join the Cabinet. </p>.'Not the time to preach peace': Mysuru MP Yaduveer Wadiyar slams Karnataka Congress for posting Gandhi peace quote after Op Sindoor.<p class="bodytext">The names of K M Shivalinge Gowda, Yashwanthrayagouda Patil, Hamapagounda Badarli, B K Sangameshwar, Vijayanand Kashappanavar and Mahantesh Koujalagi are also being heard in the race. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“It is the desire of party workers to see their leaders (becoming ministers). I’m sure their desire will be fulfilled,” Sait, a former minister, said. </p>.<p class="bodytext">According to a senior Congress leader, there is no clarity yet on whether or not Hariprasad will be made a minister as he has been given the charge of the party’s affairs in Haryana. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“If Shivanand Patil is dropped, he’ll be replaced with either Ashok Pattan or Nadagouda under Lingayat quota. Among Muslims, if Municipalities Minister Rahim Khan goes, Saleem Ahmed will come in. There are talks that one more Muslim should be inducted, which could be Sait,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“If Madhu Bangarappa is dropped, his replacement will be either Belur Gopalakrishna or Hariprasad,” the leader added. </p>.<p class="bodytext">There is talk that eight sitting ministers may be dropped. If Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre is made state Congress president, he will have to relinquish his Cabinet berth. The berth vacated by Bellary MLA B Nagendra is still not filled up. So, about 10 ministerial positions will be up for grabs.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: The ruling Congress is likely to face pressure on reshuffling the Siddaramaiah Cabinet after May 20, when his government completes two years in office.</p>.<p>The much-discussed Cabinet reshuffle -- dropping sitting ministers to make way for fresh faces - was slated to happen in October-November last year. However, it is said that Siddaramaiah was not keen on the exercise at that time. </p>.<p class="bodytext">After the Hosapete event on May 20 to mark two years of the Congress government, ministerial aspirants are expected to mount pressure on the party. Government chief whips Saleem Ahmed and Ashok Pattan are among those expecting ministerial positions.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It is said that senior lawmakers Basavaraj Rayareddi, T B Jayachandra, B R Patil, N Y Gopalkrishna, C S (Appaji) Nadagouda, Tanveer Sait, M Krishnappa (Vijayanagar), T Raghumurthy, Abbayya Prasad, Laxman Savadi and B K Hariprasad are willing to join the Cabinet. </p>.'Not the time to preach peace': Mysuru MP Yaduveer Wadiyar slams Karnataka Congress for posting Gandhi peace quote after Op Sindoor.<p class="bodytext">The names of K M Shivalinge Gowda, Yashwanthrayagouda Patil, Hamapagounda Badarli, B K Sangameshwar, Vijayanand Kashappanavar and Mahantesh Koujalagi are also being heard in the race. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“It is the desire of party workers to see their leaders (becoming ministers). I’m sure their desire will be fulfilled,” Sait, a former minister, said. </p>.<p class="bodytext">According to a senior Congress leader, there is no clarity yet on whether or not Hariprasad will be made a minister as he has been given the charge of the party’s affairs in Haryana. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“If Shivanand Patil is dropped, he’ll be replaced with either Ashok Pattan or Nadagouda under Lingayat quota. Among Muslims, if Municipalities Minister Rahim Khan goes, Saleem Ahmed will come in. There are talks that one more Muslim should be inducted, which could be Sait,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“If Madhu Bangarappa is dropped, his replacement will be either Belur Gopalakrishna or Hariprasad,” the leader added. </p>.<p class="bodytext">There is talk that eight sitting ministers may be dropped. If Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre is made state Congress president, he will have to relinquish his Cabinet berth. The berth vacated by Bellary MLA B Nagendra is still not filled up. So, about 10 ministerial positions will be up for grabs.</p>
