BENGALURU: With Assembly polls just a few months away, the Congress high command has given the go - ahead for expansion and revamp of the Siddaramaiah cabinet to inject more responsiveness in the administration.
Apart from filling the three vacant slots in his ministry, Siddaramaiah is also set to effect a minor reshuffle of the portfolios by assigning the crucial Home Ministry to Ramanath Rai, who is set to be divested of the Forest and Environment portfolio. The swearing-in ceremony is expected to be held on August 19 or 21.
K Shadakshari, MLA from Tiptur constituency, and MLCs HM Revanna and RB Timmapur have emerged as frontrunners for the three slots. The vacancies arose following the resignation of Home Minister G Parameshwara and Excise Minister HY Meti and death of Co-operation M inister Mahadeva Prasad.
Siddaramaiah, who held discussions with Congress Vice - President Rahul Gandhi in this regard, said that the high command has cleared the ministry expansion proposal. He declined to divulge who will be inducted.
According to sources, he has decided to distribute the three berths — one each for the Lingayat, Backward Community (Kuruba) and Dalit community.
HM Revanna (Kuruba) , a close associate of Siddaramaiah , and Shadakshari (Lingayat) are almost certain to make it to the ministry. However, RB Timmapur (SC) is said to be facing stiff competition from Malavalli MLA, PM Narendraswamy.
While Revanna is set to be assigned the Forest and Environment ministry, Timmapur is tipped to get the Excise portfolio earlier held by HY Meti. The Co-operation ministry is likely to be given to Shadakshari.
Rahul, who was impressed by Siddaramaiah government’s Indira Canteen, farm loan waiver and other welfare program me s now wants the CM to give greater thrust to toning up the administration, said a senior minister . Lack of a full - time H ome Minister has caused a few hiccups for the state government with the cycle of killings in the coastal region threatening to disturb the communal harmony in the region.
More central berths too?
Karnataka is likely to get one or two additional slots in Prime Minister Modi’s cabinet expansion plan. The dominant Lingayat community is assured of a berth as it has no representation in the Modi ministry after G M Siddeshwar resigned. Names of Rajya Sabha member Prabhakar Kore, and MPs Suresh Angadi, Shivakumar Udasi, Shobha Karandlaje and Nalin Kumar Katil are being floated.