Bengaluru: Congress to induct MB Patil into cabinet, to leave three posts vacant?
Bengaluru: In what could be an attempt to kill the dissidence over Cabinet berths which has been threatening to tarnish the image of the fledgling JD(S) –Congress coalition in the state, the Congress may opt to induct three leaders including former water resources minister M.B. Patil, who has been in the forefront of the campaign for a better deal for party MLAs during ministry expansion.
Sources said the Cabinet, which has seven vacancies, is likely to be expanded for the second time this month itself-maybe on June 17. The Congress may fill three vacancies and keep three vacant for the future. The JD(S) is unlikely to fill the lone vacant berth it is entitled to for some more time, the sources claimed.
Mr Patil may be able to secure a cabinet berth but he may not get what he wanted-the post of Deputy CM for a Lingayat leader like him from North Karnataka with AICC President Mr Rahul Gandhi reportedly talking tough during their interaction in Delhi. Mr Patil also wanted the water resources portfolio for himself but Mr Gandhi has reportedly told him to fall in line and accept what the party offers.
The subject will come up in the coalition’s coordination committee on Thursday, where issues pertaining to the selection of Deputy Speaker, Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council, distribution of state-run Board and Corporation posts between the two parties would be decided. Even the names of those to be inducted into the Cabinet in the second round will come up, sources said.
Meanwhile, another dissident leader, Satish Jarkiholi who had resigned from his post of AICC secretary on Tuesday, met Chief Minister Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday evening for a brief while. He may not be able to make it to the cabinet as his brother, Mr Ramesh Jarkiholi has already been inducted.
Sources said Satish is miffed ever since he was dropped from the Cabinet by former CM Mr Siddaramaiah as he perceives a threat to the ‘empire’ he has built. In the last 15 years, Mr Jarkiholi has gained control over the Valmiki (Naik) community, which made his brothers’ entry into politics easy. However, he now feels his leadership of the community is facing a threat. He was even planning to shift back to JD(S) but Mr Siddaramaiah reportedly promised him a better deal after the Assembly elections and also got him the post of AICC Secretary.
After the elections, Mr Jarkiholi feels the sand is slipping from under his feet with no cabinet berth coming his way and is keeping the cards close to his chest with sources saying he will decide his next move if nothing is done by the Congress to placate him.
Soon after getting wind of Mr M.B. Patil likely to make it to the Cabinet, former RDPR Minister Mr H.K. Patil has also upped the pressure and held a meeting with a dozen legislators to send a signal to the high command that even he is a ministerial aspirant. How the Congress leadership manages to keep everyone satisfied will be known only next week when the Cabinet expansion is undertaken, sources added.
