Ballari: The Congress high command has reportedly decided not to induct any of its six legislators from Ballari into the cabinet until the by-election is held for the Ballari Lok Sabha constituency in the next six months. The by-election has become necessary following the resignation of BJP MP, B Sriramulu, who was recently elected to the state assembly from Molakalmur.
None of the six Congress MLAs from the ore rich district of Ballari were inducted into the cabinet during its expansion on Wednesday, and according to sources in the party, the decision was taken to stop the possible defection of the party legislators, who were left out, to the BJP.
Hosapete MLA, BS Anand Singh and Ballari (ST) MLA, B Nagendra, who joined the Congress ahead of the assembly poll after quitting the BJP, reportedly tried hard for a berth in the cabinet. But the party decided to induct three-time Congress legislator from Sandur, E Tukaram into the cabinet instead reportedly at the prompting of former minister, Santosh Lad. But then it dropped him too for fear of upsetting Mr Singh and Mr Nagendra, who threatened to return to the saffron fold.
“The Congress high command decided not to take the risk as a couple of Congress legislators would have been vulnerable to poaching by the BJP if they were not inducted into the cabinet,” said a senior Congress leader.
Former minister and Hadagali MLA, PT Parameshwar Naik and Hagaribommanahalli MLA, Bhima Naik too are lobbying for cabinet berths from the Lambani community, according to sources.
But the party is unlikely to make any of its six legislators ministers until the by-election to the Ballari Lok Sabha seat is held or even until the 2019 Lok Sabha LS elections, they add. It is believed that former Minister, Gali Janardhan Reddy and his confidant, B Sriramulu are closely watching their former associates, Mr Singh and Mr Nagendra for any hint that they want to return to the BJP.
