Cabinet expansion: Snubbed Cong leaders fume over missing Cabinet berths

Disgruntlement erupted in the Congress as several leaders voiced their anger over not getting a place in the HD Kumaraswamy Cabinet, with their supporters staging street protests in various parts of the state, including Bengaluru. Former minister M B Patil, who spearheaded the movement for a separate Lingayat religion, said his self-respect had been hurt.

Patil, who was earlier water resources minister, said his name was on the list of would-be ministers till late Tuesday night. “I don’t know what happened. I will talk to (former CM) Siddaramaiah and then react. When my self-respect is hurt, I won’t care for anybody. I want to make it clear that I will not accept any post during this government’s term,” Patil told reporters.

Patil’s supporters from his constituency Bableshwar in Vijayapura staged a protest near his Sadashivanagar residence. Hirekerur legislator
B C Patil said: “I’m pained. I’m the only Congress MLA from Haveri district. I’ve won thrice. I should’ve been made a minister. I’m not sure how people will continue keeping faith in the Congress,” Patil said, pointing out that he resisted offers from the BJP to remain in the Congress. “It looks as though there’s no place for honesty.”

The JD(S) camp, too, saw dissent going public. “I was pained when I learnt that my name wasn’t on the list,” party leader Basavaraj Horatti said. “It was the duty of my party to make me a minister.” Sakleshpur legislator H K Kumaraswamy, another ministerial aspirant, is also upset with the JD(S) leadership.