Dissatisfaction in Karnataka Congress over cabinet expansion

Bengaluru (IANS) | The cabinet expansion exercise has fueled discontent in the Karnataka Congress, which returned to power after the May 10 assembly elections. Sources gave this information. While no one dared to come out and issue a statement in this regard, Congress insiders confirmed that there is discontent among senior party leaders over missing out on a cabinet berth. A close aide of senior leader Sonia Gandhi, B.K. Hariprasad is contemplating to resign as MLC and Leader of Opposition in the Council. Veteran Congress leader R.V. Deshpande, who refused to accept the Speaker’s post, has also been sidelined by the party.

The source said that even after heavy lobbying in New Delhi, the senior leader did not get help. The state unit has alleged that the resourceful Deshpande did not help the party in difficult times.

Shivling Gowda, who is former PM H.D. Deve Gowda, who had joined the Congress after raising the flag of rebellion, said after meeting Siddaramaiah at his residence, I am saddened. I won’t say anything now.

Senior politician from Vokkaliga community T.B. Jayachandra, and Vinay Kulkarni, who won from Dharwad Rural, are also unhappy. Vinay Kulkarni is an accused in the murder case of a BJP worker and is a favorite of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Jagdish Shettar and Laxman Savadi, who came to Congress from BJP, have also not been made ministers, while Savadi was promised a place in the cabinet. Jagdish Shettar has been promised to be made an MLC and then inducted into the cabinet.

Senior leader Rudrappa Lamani has also not been included in the cabinet. Our Banjara community leader Rudrappa Lamani’s name was in the list till last night, but today we saw that his name is not there.

When asked about this development, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hit back at the media on Saturday saying whether any leader spoke to him personally that he was unhappy with the cabinet expansion. He said that there is nothing like that.

–IANS