Karna cabinet expansion by October 10, says KPCC chief

The over four-month old Congress-JD(S) ministry headed by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy would be expanded by October 10, Karnataka Pradesh Congress President Dinesh Gundu Rao said Wednesday.

This would be the second expansion of the cabinet since the coalition came to power in May in a post-poll tie-up. In the earlier exercise on June 6, Kumaraswamy had inducted 25 ministers, taking the ministry's strength to 27.

There are six vacant ministerial positions left for the Congress and one for the JD(S). Under the power sharing arrangement reached by the two parties, Congress will have 22 ministers and the JD(S) 12.

"On cabinet expansion, our General Secretary (K C Venugopal) has already said it will be by October 10. By 10th (October) expansion and appointment of heads to boards and corporations will be done, Rao told reporters here.

 

He said he along with a couple of party leaders were scheduled to visit Delhi for discussions, soon after the Congress Working Committees meeting scheduled in Wardha on October 2.

The decision to expand the cabinet has come amid speculations that some disgruntled Congress MLAs were being wooed by the BJP besides reported factionalism within the party.

The first cabinet expansion had caused heartburn among several MLAs in the coalition.

Rao, however, did not divulge details whether the Congress would fill all the six vacant posts during the coming cabinet expansion.

The KPCC chief sought to downplay outpouring of 'grievances' by the party MLAs and MLCs against the state government at the Congress Legislature Party Meeting Tuesday night.

Constructive discussions took place about the functioning of the government and the party.

...it cannot be termed as dissent. Internal democracy within the party gives opportunity for MLAs to discuss about the issues within the party. Yesterday's meeting was fruitful, it was in fact a show of unity, he said.

Rao also said MLAs have been instructed not to make public statements on issues concerning the party unnecessarily, as it may be projected differently.

"We have advised them to discuss within the party and sort out issues if any," he said adding party discipline should be maintained and respected by one and all.