Karnataka Cabinet expansion: Dr G ‘homes’ into CM den

Bengaluru: The ‘lucky four’ were all smiles while those who failed to make it could only hope for a reshuffle, may be next year, after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expanded his Cabinet on Thursday inducting four Congress legislators.

At the swearing-in ceremony, all eyes were on KPCC president Dr G. Parameshwar, an aspirant for the Deputy CM post, who had to settle for a ministerial berth. He is however tipped to get the powerful home portfolio, now handled by Sarvagnanagar MLA K.J. George, whose performance had come under scrutiny following a series of crimes including incidents of rape in Bengaluru city.

Mr George may be assigned  Bengaluru city development, a portfolio currently being looked after by the CM. Mr Siddaramaiah had promised to appoint a separate minister for Bengaluru city to address critical issues including the garbage crisis.

The others who joined the ministry are Manohar Tahsildar, A. Manju and Vinay Kulkarni, the last two as ministers of state.  The CM is expected to allot portfolios to the new ministers on Friday. Sources said Mr Vinay Kulkarni may get the excise portfolio, Mr Manohar Tahsildar higher education while tourism may be allotted to Mr Manju.

Later, Mr Siddaramaiah told reporters that he would reshuffle his ministry after the taluk and zilla panchayat elections due in December.

No change of KPCC chief now

Dr G. Parameshwar who joined the cabinet is likely to continue as KPCC president for at least one or two months. Sources close to him told Deccan Chronicle that he would not step down immediately. “He has to wait for a direction from the  high command. Elections to the Legislative Council are due in December. Dr Parameshwar’s successor may need time to understand the party cadre, the dynamics in different districts,” sources explained.

The caste balance

A. Manju and Vinay Kulkarni belong to the dominant Vokkaliga and Lingayat community respectively while Manohar Tahsildar is from the backward Balija caste with the Cabinet expansion seen as an attempt to bring community and regional balance in the Congress government. Dr  Parameshwar, a Dalit, has served as minister twice.

Those who missed the bus

Those who missed the bus this time are Malikayya Guttedar, Dr A.B. Maalakareddy, K.B. Koliwad, Basavaraj Rayareddy, K.R. Ramesh Kumar, Tanvir Sait, Eshwar Khandre and Rajaskhekar Patil, H.Y. Meti, Veeranna Mattikatti, Motamma, B.B. Chimmanakatti and M. Krishnappa. Some of them are former ministers. The districts which remain unrepresented in the Siddaramaiah government which is now two and a half years old,  are Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Kodagu, Bidar, Chikkamagaluru and Raichur.