First-time Congress legislators with 'merit and dedication' can be given ministerial berths: Veerappa Moily

Former Chief Minister M Veerappa Moily on Tuesday said that first-time Congress legislators can be given ministerial berths during the proposed Cabinet reshuffle if they have the requisite merit.

Moily responded to reports of over 30 first-time Congress MLAs seeking Cabinet positions by stressing the need for a Cabinet with a balance of merit among first-time, young, and senior leaders.

“We entered politics when the Chief Minister Devaraj Urs recognised us in 1972. If legislators have merit and dedication, they can be included in the Cabinet,” he said.

Moily added that no one has the moral right to question new MLAs who aspire to ministerial berths in the Congress government in Karnataka. He recalled that he, too, was a newcomer in his early political days and said those with eligibility should be given ministerial posts.

“If the MLAs have merit, the Chief Minister will recognise them. In our time, we did not lobby for ministerial berths. We were recognised by the Chief Minister,” he added.

Addressing demands for a change in Chief Minister and current talk of a Cabinet reshuffle, Moily reiterated that legislators are expressing aspirations, not groupism.

On Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s visit to Udupi district on Wednesday, he said the CM will arrive in Karkala.