CM Seeks Reports from Ministers, Reshuffle Likely

As his government steps into its second year, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has sought performance reports from his cabinet colleagues.
CM Seeks Reports from Ministers, Reshuffle Likely

As his government steps into its second year, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has sought performance reports from his cabinet colleagues.

That means lax ministers could be dropped soon, a source said. But Siddaramaiah told Express that he was collecting information for a brochure to highlight his government’s performance. It has been one year since he took oath as Chief Minister, on May 12, 2013. A 28-member ministerial team was sworn in six days later. On January 1, he expanded the cabinet to induct D K Shivakumar and R Roshan Baig.

“We need to tell people whether we have kept the promises we made at the time of elections. I have asked all ministers to highlight their achievements,” he said.

When asked specifically whether he would assess the performance of ministers in the co-ordination committee, he said, “It is not a question of performance. We will do a review of ministers, but that is a different matter.”

Rumours suggest a large-scale cabinet reshuffle is imminent after the Lok Sabha results are out on May 16. At least half a dozen non-performing ministers may be shown the door, according to party sources. 

Those who shirked Lok Sabha election work and sabotaged the prospects of party candidates are also likely to face the axe, a Congress leader said. The CM also hinted at a cabinet expansion, but said nothing on a reshuffle. With the cabinet ceiling fixed at 35, it has room for four more leaders.  Report cards submitted by the ministers will be matched against those obtained through bureaucrats. Siddaramaiah can take a call on the firing and the reshuffle only after he discusses the names with the coordination committee, a leader said.

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