BENGALURU: MLC Gayathri Shanthegowda is set to be sworn in at 12.30pm Friday at the Legislative Council Chairman’s office. Following the oath-taking ceremony, she is expected to meet former CM Siddaramaiah, who was on a visit to Mysuru on Thursday.
According to sources, a decision on her induction into the ministry could be taken on Friday by senior party leaders. UDD Minister Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah, presently touring Bidar, is also expected to hold a meeting with her. She is expected to hold discussions with the Congress leadership.
The development comes against the backdrop of simmering resentment within the Kuruba community. Gayathri had earlier missed out on a ministerial berth during the cabinet expansion, reportedly after some influential community leaders blocked her entry.
The setback has triggered anger among Kuruba groups, with organisations such as the Halumatha Olapangadagala Okkuta and several others voicing anger and outrage on social media.
Many within the community have alleged that vested interests worked against her inclusion in the cabinet, and the community is said to still be coming to terms with the episode. Many social media posts were filled with unhappiness over a Backward Classes woman being blocked by powerful vested interests.
When contacted, Gayathri told TNIE, “I had met Siddaramaiah Sir and he asked me if I had taken oath as MLC, since oath-taking is fixed for tomorrow I will meet him after that.’’
Sources close to the development note that the matter of her becoming minister is not yet closed, as no replacement has been appointed to the ministerial post in question — keeping alive the possibility that Gayathri could still be considered.
Sources said if she gets the green signal from the party leadership, she could be sworn in minister in one or two days, making the 34-member Shivakumar ministry complete, two months after he was sworn in as CM. One of her supporters told TNIE, “I am sure the party will allow her to become minister, this entire delay is really not justified.”