Siddaramaih to expand cabinet; DKS, Baig to get berths

mangaloretoday.com

Bangalore, Dec 31, 2013, DHNS: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday finally yielded to the pressure to expand his seven-month-old ministry, and decided to induct senior leaders D K Shivakumar and Roshan Baig into the Cabinet.

 

The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for 5:15 pm at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday.
Siddaramaiah, who had been resisting the demand to incorporate the two leaders into his ministry owing to charges of corruption against them, is learnt to have relented after the intervention of the party high command.

The Congress’s move is said to be aimed at consolidating its support among Vokkaliga and Muslim communities ahead of the crucial 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Both leaders are likely to get cabinet berths.

The chief minister understood to have directed officials to keep the  swearing-in ceremony a low-key affair. Hence, the function is planned in the Banquet hall of Raj Bhavan.
Normally,  swearing-in ceremonies are held at the Glass House of Raj Bhavan.

Interestingly, the expansion has come only about a month after the resignation of Santosh Lad as minister in the wake of allegations of his involvement in illegal mining.

Baig, when contacted, refused to comment on the reason behind he being kept out of the Cabinet so far, while Shivakumar was not available for comments.

It will be the third expansion of the Siddaramaiah-headed Cabinet in seven months.
With the induction of Shivakumar and Baig, its strength will increase to 31, including the chief minister himself.

Three more berths will remain vacant.

Six-time MLA Shivakumar, 51, is considered a key Vokkaliga leader in the party.

He ensured victory for party candidate and his brother D K Suresh in the recently-held by-election to the Bangalore Rural parliamentary constituency.

He is an MLA from the Kanakapura constituency in Ramanagar district.

Shivakumar is a staunch follower of former external affairs minister S M Krishna.

Baig, also a six-time MLA, has considerable influence over the Muslim community, especially in Bangalore. He represents the Shivajinagar constituency in Bangalore Urban district. Both leaders have served as ministers in the past, and are known for their organisational skills.

Dissatisfaction

The move to expand the state Cabinet is learnt to have given rise to dissatisfaction among ministerial hopefuls in the Congress.

Some aspirants are said to have openly questioned the decision and feared that the party would suffer a setback in the Parliamentary elections.