Karnataka Congress leader Saleem Ahmed 'confident' of joining Cabinet

Hubballi: Stating that Cabinet expansion in the state may take place after Bihar elections in November, Government Chief Whip in Legislative Assembly Saleem Ahmed on Friday expressed confidence that he would get an opportunity to join the Cabinet.

"Cabinet expansion may happen after Bihar polls. Ultimately, chief minister and the party high command will take a decision. As the government has completed two-and-a-half years, some Cabinet members may be given the party organisation responsibilities and some new faces may get included in the Cabinet. Finally, high command and CM will decide," he said.

"I should have joined the Cabinet last time itself, but I don't know why I did not get the chance. Our role was also there in bringing the party to power, and the remaining three working presidents of the KPCC became ministers. This time, I am confident," Saleem Ahmed noted.

Observing that a leader from minority community in Kittur Karnataka was not made a minister in last 20 years, he said he worked as a loyal worker at all levels of the party.

The MLC representing Dharwad-Gadag-Haveri local bodies constituency in the Council also said issues related to the development of the state would be discussed during CM Siddaramaiah's dinner meeting with ministers, and it would not be about politics.