Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is preparing for a ministry reshuffle before the Assembly session begins next month and has sought copperation from his council of Ministers for the much-awaited exercise.
"It has been three years for our government, time has come for me to reshuffle the cabinet keeping forthcoming election in mind. I will do it in consultation with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, request you cooperation," Siddaramaiah said at a meeting of council of ministers today, according to sources.
The meeting came even as several senior party legislators are camping in Delhi to make their case for cabinet berth with the party high command.
The Chief Minister also reportedly hinted that some ministers would have to take up party responsibility, the sources said.
The legislature session will be held from July 4 to July 29.
The talk about the ministry reshuffle has been in circulation for long but various reasons like drought and elections to local bodies, Council and Rajya Sabha have been cited for its deferment.
Siddaramaiah had earlier said that reshuffle will involve"dropping a few and inducting a few", and yardstick for it isgiving opportunity for new people.
Several "like-minded" Congress MLAs have held meetings and demanded reshuffle.
They have also sought dropping of "non-performing" ministers from the cabinet.
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Law Minister T B Jayachandra said the state cabinet has decided to accept the magisterial inquiry report submitted by Mysuru Deputy Commissioner C Shikha on the violence in Kodagu district following Tipu Sultan Jayanti celebrations last year in which two persons were killed.
He said the report has recommended showcause notice be issued to Kodagu DC Meer Anees Ahmmed and SP Vartika Katiyar for showing indifference to work and departmental inquiry against them.
It has recommended their transfer to non-executive positions for not properly executing their duties and also to seekclarification from the IGP South Zone for not being stationed atthe headquarters on the day the incident happened.
Both the DC and SP were on leave ahead of Tipu Jayanti. The cabinet has also decided to form a committee of ministers to find a land for Legislators' Club proposedto come up on the lines of Constitution Club in Delhi, as the Home Department did not approve of the club coming up at Carlton House in Bengaluru that houses CID headquarters now.
