Cabinet expansion by month-end: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: Raising the hopes of Congress legislators who have been nursing ministerial ambitions, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the much-awaited Cabinet expansion or reshuffle will take place before the end of this month.

Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, he reiterated that this would be done before September 30. “I will be going to Delhi to get approval from the party high command for the Cabinet expansion,” the Chief Minister said.

There has been talk about the chief minister likely to drop some non-performing ministers and induct a few leaders who have been waiting on the sidelines for a long time. Replying to a question, Mr Siddaramaiah said that he would offer Bagina (a tribute)  to the Goddess Cauvery at the mighty KRS reservoir in Mandya only if the dam fills to the brim.

Bagina was offered at Beechanahalli Dam a few months ago but since then, the rains have failed. On Tuesday, the water level in KRS dam stood at 106.65 feet, still 18 feet short of the maximum level of 124 feet.

The water storage in the dam was around 26 TMC ft of water as against the full capacity of 45 tmc ft of water. The dam is the major source of drinking water for Mysuru and Bengaluru cities. “I am optimistic that the  KRS will fill up in the current month so that I can offer Bagina to goddess Cauvery,” Mr Siddaramaiah said.