An MLC has finally made it to the Cabinet, but the second expansion of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s Ministry has also caused much heartburn.
The decision to induct senior Congress MLC S R Patil, who is known to have a good equation with Siddaramaiah, has angered all others who were in the race. Patil is to be sworn in at Raj Bhavan on Saturday. “It is unfortunate that sycophants are getting more attention than those who have worked hard for the party. This will not auger well in the coming days,” said an MLC who spoke to Express on the condition of anonymity.
The MLCs who lobbied hard to get into the Cabinet are furious at the way things panned out. “Patil came to Delhi with others like Veeranna Mathikatti and C Motamma to meet AICC president Sonia Gandhi. Everyone wanted a berth in the Cabinet. But, much before meeting Sonia, Patil left Delhi citing personal reasons. Later, we came to know that he got a hint that he will get the berth,” a source said.
Many of the senior MLCs are said to be feeling very disheartened. The decision to support Patil, close on the heels of the allegation that Siddaramaiah favoured those with Janata Parivar links, and his supporters from the Ahinda movement, has hurt the Congress old guard, particularly from the forward castes.
An MLC alleged that from day one, Siddaramaiah has been ‘sidelining’ members of the Upper House. “Even a few ‘tainted’ MLAs have made it to the Cabinet, but clean and loyal MLCs have been left high and dry,” he said. The old guard is unhappy that even KPCC president G Parameshwar, instead of taking up their cause, has toed Siddaramaiah’s line.