BANGALORE: Reiterating that Cabinet expansion is the prerogative of the chief minister, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president G Parameshwara said he was not standing in the way of the long-expected move.
Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, the KPCC chief said, “It is unfair to link my bid to get the deputy CM’s post to the delay in Cabinet expansion.” If Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wishes, he can reshuffle or expand his ministry anytime, he said.
Parameshwara said the process of appointing party workers to various boards and corporations is almost complete, and he will meet Siddaramaiah in a day or two to finalise the list.
He said long-time party loyalists will be preferred for the appointments, but “demands have also come from MLAs and defeated candidates (in Assembly polls) seeking berths in the state bodies”.
Denying that the party high command has issued guidelines in this regard, Parameshwara said sharing power with party workers will help create and build a new leadership.
When asked if state leaders will campaign for the Congress in Maharashtra, he said, “Right now there are no specific plans. If any request comes from Maharashtra, some leaders will be pressed for election campaign.”
Maharashtra will go to polls on October 15.
CM, KPCC Chief to Meet Sonia Gandhi
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Parameshwara will meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi when she stops at Belgaum, on her way to Maharashtra for election campaign, on Thursday.
The leaders are expected to discuss long-pending issues like appointments to state boards and corporations and Cabinet expansion. Sonia is expected to arrive at Belgaum around 12.10 pm.
According to party sources, Congress leader and former Union minister Mallikarjun Kharge will accompany Sonia.