Karnataka Chief Minister Engages with Dissatisfied Legislators Amid Cabinet Expansion Discontent
Meeting with Discontented Legislators
(With images) Bengaluru, August 5 - Amid ongoing dissatisfaction regarding the recent cabinet expansion in Karnataka, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala met with disgruntled legislators on Wednesday. This meeting comes in response to protests from supporters of those legislators who were not included in the cabinet. Efforts to appease the unhappy lawmakers were also made by B.K. Hariprasad, the president of the Karnataka Congress unit, along with several other ministers.
Future Steps Discussed by Legislators
As discussions continue, some senior legislators who were left out of the cabinet expansion on Monday, which included 19 ministers, have decided to convene soon to deliberate on their next steps. This initiative seems to have had some effect, as Indie MLA Yashavantraigouda V. Patil retracted his resignation from the legislative assembly on Monday. He submitted a letter to the assembly secretary on Wednesday to formally withdraw his resignation.
Warnings from the Chief Minister
According to sources, Patil made this decision after being persuaded by the Chief Minister and several ministers. Following threats from other disgruntled Congress legislators to resign after being excluded from the cabinet, Shivakumar warned on Tuesday that the party would accept their resignations within minutes. He urged the dissatisfied legislators to remain patient, assuring them that positions in state government boards and corporations would soon be filled.
Reconciliation Efforts
MLA S.R. Srinivas from Gubbi, who expressed significant displeasure at not being appointed as a minister on Tuesday, appeared more conciliatory after meeting with Shivakumar on Wednesday. However, he also praised H.D. Kumaraswamy, the leader of his former party, Janata Dal (Secular), who had previously appointed Srinivas as a minister in his cabinet. A group of ministers also met with senior MLA and former minister T.B. Jayachandra, along with Bengaluru MLA M. Krishnaappa and his son Priya Krishna, to seek their support.
Further Discussions and Hopes for Resolution
Later in the evening, Shivakumar and Surjewala visited Krishnaappa's residence to discuss matters with the father-son duo. Hariprasad also visited the homes of senior MLA and former minister H.K. Patil, as well as former ministers Dinesh Gundu Rao and T.B. Jayachandra. Speaking to reporters, Jayachandra acknowledged the existing differences but emphasized that they should be resolved within the party. He expressed hope that the high command and the Chief Minister would address these issues.
Future Cabinet Composition
Hariprasad, the KPCC chief, expressed confidence that the ongoing discontent within the party would be resolved. The Karnataka cabinet can accommodate a total of 34 members, and even after the recent expansion, one position remains vacant. Sources indicate that Surjewala may also meet with Siddaramaiah, as there is considerable speculation that the former Chief Minister is upset over the high command's disregard for his recommendations during the cabinet expansion. Reports suggest that Siddaramaiah is particularly displeased about the exclusion of Basavaraj Shivannanavar, an MLA from the Kuruba community, from the cabinet, while the name of Gayatri Shantegouda, a member of the legislative council from the same community, was included in the list sent by the high command, only for her swearing-in to be canceled at the last moment.
Concerns Over Legislative Council Member's Position
Siddaramaiah is also reportedly unhappy about the decision to not include M. Umashree in the cabinet, instead nominating her as the party's candidate for the position of Deputy Chairperson of the Legislative Council.