State Cabinet expansion: CM awaits 'message' from congress
Belagavi, Dec 20: With two days left for the much awaited expansion of his cabinet, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Thursday said he was waiting for a "message" from his coalition partner, the Congress party, to write to the Governor about carrying out the exercise.
"I'm yet to receive message from Delhi (Congress high command)," Kumaraswamy said in response to a question about writing a letter to the governor for the cabinet expansion exercise.
Speaking to reporters here, he said "Soon after our senior coalition partner (Congress) gives us the message, I will write to the governor."
Seeking to contain simmering discontent within the party over cabinet expansion, the Congress on Tuesday had said the Congress-JD(S) coalition ministry would be expanded on December 22 as announced earlier.
Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah, Pradesh Congress President Dinesh Gundu Rao and Deputy chief minister G Parameshwara left for Delhi this evening to meet the Congress high command, including general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal, to discuss the expansion and the probable names.
According to sources, they are expected to meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi during the visit. However, reports suggest that Gandhi was in Shimla on a personal visit.
Asked whether the cabinet expansion would take place on December 22, the Chief Minister said, "please ask Congress party."
"There are no issues with us (JDS) we are ready for it. They (Congress leaders) too have gone to Delhi with an intention to expand the cabinet."
Rao had on Tuesday indicated that it may be cabinet expansion or reshuffle or both may happen on December 22, creating worry among several ministers about being dropped from the ministry.
Kumaraswamy, on his part, did not spell out anything clearly to a question, whether it will be cabinet reshuffle on Saturday.
Pointing out that the Congress was the major party in the coalition, Kumaraswamy said, whatever they decide," accordingly we will carry out the exercise."
"There is no problem within our party (JDS), we are all united. The vacant posts that are there we will fill them, we are ready, there are no issues within us," he added.
With the cabinet expansion exercise being postponed repeatedly, several aspirants, especially those from the Congress, had openly expressed their displeasure.
Despite repeated reiteration by Congress leaders that the expansion will take place on the scheduled date, party MLAs are sceptical about it happening till the Lok Sabha polls early next year. Some of them have also cited the current "Shoonya Masa" that is considered inauspicious month, as the reason.
According to the pact reached between the two partners at the time of formation of the coalition government in May, there are now six vacant ministerial positions left for the Congress and two for the JD(S).
This will be the second expansion of the Kumaraswamy's ministry, who currently heads the 26-member cabinet.
Along with cabinet expansion, the coalition partners are also likely to appoint MLAs as heads to boards and corporations, and as parliamentary secretaries to Ministers on December 22.
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Pranavananda Swamiji urges Cong to make Shivakumar Karnataka CM
Kalaburagi (Karnataka) (PTI): Pranavananda Swamiji, president of the forum of heads of the most backward class maths, urged the Congress high command on Sunday to immediately appoint Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar as the CM of Karnataka.
Warning that the Congress would face “consequences” if Shivakumar is not made CM, he said a group of 25 swamijis plans to visit New Delhi to present the demand to the party high command.
Earlier in the day, Shivakumar said that both he and CM Siddaramaiah will abide by any decision taken by the Congress high command on the leadership issue in the state.
The remarks come amid speculation within the party and political circles about a possible leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, when the results of assembly elections in four states and one Union Territory, along with bypolls to two assembly segments in Karnataka, are announced.
“The CM chair issue is ongoing in the state. As president of the Mahasabha of swamijis of the most backward class maths in the state, I demand that D K Shivakumar be made CM immediately. It has been about three years since this government came to power, and several timelines have been set, such as Sankranti, Ugadi, and the five-state elections,” Pranavananda Swamiji said.
Speaking to reporters, he said the situation appears to be “insulting” to Shivakumar.
“Shivakumar took over as KPCC president when no one was willing to accept the post and brought the party to power. He was promised the CM post in the presence of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi and General Secretary K C Venugopal. Now, why is the party hesitating to fulfil that promise? This is not right,” he said.
Swamiji said he was not denying that Siddaramaiah is a “big leader” of backward communities, but added that Siddaramaiah has already served as CM for about eight years, including five years in his first term.
“We cannot say that backward classes have received significant benefits. Even the recent state budget did not do much for backward class communities,” he said, alleging that these communities have not significantly benefited under Siddaramaiah.
Urging the Congress high command to immediately make Shivakumar the CM, Pranavananda Swamiji warned that otherwise the party would face “serious consequences” in the state.
He said the Mahasabha of swamijis will meet Shivakumar and, after discussions, about 25 swamijis will travel to Delhi.
“Shivakumar’s contribution to most backward communities is immense. He has been an MLA about eight times and a minister several times. Why is he not being given the CM post? He has worked for the party and deserves recognition—this is my demand to the Congress high command,” he added.
The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025.
The speculation has been fuelled by reports of a “power-sharing” arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.
