Karnataka cabinet expansion soon: AICC Prez Kharge

Bengaluru, Jul 13 (PTI) AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said the cabinet expansion in D K Shivakumar-led Karnataka government would take place at the earliest. This statement came amid intense lobbying by ministerial aspirants seeking induction into the cabinet. "It will happen at the earliest; it will be done...once Rahul Gandhi comes back (from abroad)," Kharge told reporters in response to a question on cabinet expansion. Shivakumar was sworn in as Chief Minister along with 13 ministers on June 3, following Siddaramaiah's resignation as CM on May 28. Karnataka's ministry has a sanctioned strength of 34, including the CM, of which 20 berths remain vacant, adding to the pressure on Shivakumar to expand his cabinet. With many aspirants and limited berths available, Shivakumar has a tightrope to walk, risking large-scale disgruntlement among those left out, according to party sources. He will also need to strike a balance on representation, keeping caste equations and regional considerations in mind. Shivakumar on Monday said he would travel to Delhi once the Congress high command gave him an appointment, while indicating there was no delay from his side regarding the cabinet expansion. "Look, I am convening the Assembly on the 6th (August 6), which is my priority," Shivakumar told reporters in Bengaluru. He added, "There is no delay from my side (for cabinet expansion). Whenever they (party high command) give me time, I will go. They will give me a date in another three or four days. Once they do, I will go and come back." Amid the cabinet expansion buzz, several ministerial aspirants met Kharge at his residence here. They included MLAs Ashok Pattan, Shivalinge Gowda and T D Rajegowda, among others. Pattan said, "There are a lot of aspirants, and I'm senior. I want to tell the high command and state leaders not to look at caste alone while inducting ministers — loyalty and service to the party should also be considered. It will benefit the party." The opposition BJP has taken a dig at the ruling Congress over the "delay" in cabinet expansion. State BJP chief B Y Vijayendra claimed, "At a time when there is a drought-like situation in the state, there is no full-fledged cabinet to manage it. There are indications that Congress MLAs who are ministerial aspirants may camp in Delhi, because their leader Rahul Gandhi is returning from a foreign trip." Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, criticising the Congress, said, "Induction of ministers into the cabinet under the merit quota is over. Then there is the management quota, and then there is the payment quota... It may happen based on how things work out. The process may take some time, as discussions will have to happen." PTI KSU SSK