Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 28: Amid reports of Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy planning to reshuffle the cabinet in a bid to save the coalition government, former chief minister Siddaramaiah, who is also the chief of the Congress-JD(S) coalition committee, on Tuesday May 28 it would not be a reshuffle but only a move to fill three vacant posts.
“There are three posts vacant and there are plans to expand the cabinet by filling up these posts. It is not a reshuffle,” Siddaramaiah told reporters in Mysuru.
However, when asked to clarify reports on some ministers being asked to step down to pacify disgruntled MLAs, Siddaramaiah said he has no knowledge about the same.
Both Congress and JD(S) leaderships are battling to keep the coaltion together in the midst of reports of dissidence among MLAs of the two parties. Two days ago, Congress MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi visiting S M Krishna after BJP’s victory in Lok Sabha polls had raised eyebrows. The MLA had earlier threatened to resign from Congress along with a few MLAs post the Lok Sabha polls.
Meanwhile, sources state that Kumaraswamy is personally visiting the disgruntled Congress MLAs and trying to build confidence, to save his government. On Monday, the CM had met Athani MLA Mahesh Kumathalli and promised to address issues. Kumathalli is Jarkiholi's close aide and sources say the CM promised him that Jarkiholi will be inducted into the cabinet.
Currently in the Karnataka cabinet three seats are vacant. Of these two belong to JD(S) and one to Congress. The problems in the coalition after the JD(S)-Congress failure in Lok Sabha polls in the state will be the main topic to be discussed in Congress legislature party meeting on May 29.
Amid simmering discontent within the Congress, coalition leaders fear the BJP, spurred by the Lok Sabha poll outcome in which it bagged 25 of the 28 seats in the state, may poach some MLAs.
The BJP had predicted the collapse of the coalition and increase in its tally in the assembly after the Lok Sabha poll results, claiming that 20-odd Congress MLAs were unhappy and may take any decision anytime. Coalition partners Congress and JD(S) managed to win only one seat each in the Lok Sabha polls.