Speculations are rife within the Karnataka unit of Congress regarding the possible Cabinet reshuffle after 4 June.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's cabinet. (supplied)
Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka is most likely to reshuffle the state Cabinet after the announcement of the Lok Sabha election results on 4 June, according to the talks that are making rounds among the Congress MLAs and their supporters.
The speculations assume significance in the wake of a condition that the party high command had reportedly set forth when a few state ministers demanded tickets for their kin to contest the general elections.
According to some leaders, the Congress high command had made a condition that if the prodigies of those ministers failed in the elections, they would be sacked from the Cabinet.
In the Lok Sabha polls, the grand old party fielded children of six ministers and a minister’s spouse in Karnataka.
Several senior MLAs, especially those who failed to get Cabinet posts, are said to have expressed disappointment to the party high command over prioritising some ministers and their families in the parliament elections instead of local party workers and leaders.
Those who are upset hardly campaigned for the party candidate in their respective seats, especially in Belagavi and Chikkodi, claimed sources.
Speculations are rife within the Karnataka unit of Congress regarding the possible Cabinet reshuffle after 4 June — after the announcement of Lok Sabha polls results.
On anonymity, a Congress leader told South First: “If one observed the Congress’ poll campaign for the parliament elections, especially in those seats where the minister’s children and relatives have been fielded, the local MLAs were barely active in the campaign.”
“The senior MLAs in Belagavi, Chikkodi, Bagalkot and a few other seats are confident about the Cabinet reshuffle post the parliament election results. The party has reportedly cautioned the ministers of sacking from the cabinet post if their kith or kin fail to win in the elections,” the leader claimed.
“There are other factors including lack of development grants and district ministers taking care of most of the transfers have upset the MLAs,” sources said.
Several MLAs including the representatives of Bailhongal, Ramdurga, Hungund, Athani and Yelburga segments participated in the campaign but were not active during the elections, claimed sources.
On anonymity, a close aide of Ramdurg MLA told South First: “The Ramdurg MLA is upset about how things panned out in the parliament election campaign. Minister for Women and Child Welfare Laxmi Hebbalkar has completely failed to take the local MLAs into confidence.”
“She sidelined the local MLAs in most matters including giving responsibilities. She has made sure that her team from Bhadravathi is on the ground instead of local leaders. This has upset not just Ramdurg MLA but also others in the district.”
“The MLA has asked the people to cast their votes of their choice instead of stressing for the Congress candidate. There is a rife talk going on among the party MLAs that the Cabinet would be reshuffled after the parliament election results. MLA Ashok Pattan is confident about this development post-election results, considering his seniority,” he elaborated.
It is not just the party workers and MLAs who are confident about the Cabinet reshuffle. Some of the office bearers of the party are hinting about this possible significant development in the government.
On the Cabinet reshuffle, a senior party office bearer told South First: “There are high chances of a Cabinet reshuffle after the election results are declared. Some of the ministers are likely to be sacked from the Cabinet if the results do not go in their favour.”
“The party has reportedly cautioned those ministers whose children and relatives are being fielded of replacing them in the Cabinet if they fail to ensure victory for the party’s face. The Cabinet reshuffle is totally depending on the election results,” stated the senior party leader.
On anonymity, a senior Congress MLC told South First: “All the party leaders have put valiant efforts for the parliament elections in Karnataka. We are confident that the verdict will be in our favour in most of the seats.”
“I will be able to comment on the Cabinet reshuffle only after the parliament election results are declared on 4 June,” the senior MLC said hinting about a possible Cabinet reshuffle.
Meanwhile, Minister for Science and Technology NS Boseraju ruled out the rife talks among the MLAs about the possible cabinet reshuffle.
“The party high command has not put any conditions before the ministers. The party leadership has only asked them to put sincere efforts to ensure the party candidates,” stated Boseraju.
In the Lok Sabha elections, Minister for Women and Child Welfare Laxmi Hebbalkar’s son Murnal Hebbalkar is contesting from Belagavi, Minister for Public Works Satish Jarkiholi’s daughter Priyank Jarkiholi is fighting from Chikkodi, Minister for Sugar and Textiles Shivananda Patil’s daughter is contesting from Bagalkot.
Similarly, Minister for Forest Eshwar Khandre’s son Sagar Khandre is contesting from Bidar, Minister for Social Welfare Dr HC Mahadevappa’s son Sunil Bose from Chamarajanagar, Minister for Transport and Muzrai Ramalinga Reddy’s daughter and former MLA Sowmya Reddy from Bengaluru.
Minister for Mines and Geology SS Mallikarjun’s wife Dr Prabha Mallikarjun is fighting from Davangere.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
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