High command may allow Siddaramaiah to drop only 4-6 ministers: Sources
He may even be asked to wait for a month before carrying out the rejig.
Bengaluru: If Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had his way, he would have dropped 10-12 non-performing ministers and inducted fresh blood in what could be the last reshuffle before the state goes to polls in 2018.
But this is unlikely to happen with Congress sources saying the high command may allow the chief minister to drop only 4-6 ministers. He may even be asked to wait for a month before carrying out the rejig.
Most of the Cabinet hopefuls are already lobbying in the national capital and include MLC, R.B. Thimmapur, who has not yet taken oath as legislator. Another aspirant, Congress chief whip, Ashok Pattan is banking on Belagavi’s low representation after the exit of Prakash Hukkeri, who is now Lok Sabha MP. The CM, who reached Delhi Thursday evening, is likely to meet AICC president Sonia Gandhi and son, Rahul Gandhi on Friday. On Thursday, he met Mrs Gandhi’s political secretary, Ahmed Patel and sought his support to push through the rejig plan. He also met Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.