
Congress high command for maintaining status quo on Cabinet composition and KPCC chief’s post
The Hindu
Congress high command advises Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to maintain status quo on Cabinet and KPCC president until 30 months.
The Congress high command seems to have told Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to maintain status quo on both the State Cabinet composition as well as the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president’s post till the government completes two-and-a-half years (30 months) of its five-year tenure.
Sources in the Congress said after meetings with AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Thursday, AICC general secretaries told the Chief Minister not to make any attempt to reshuffle the State Cabinet and issue statements related to replacement of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar as KPCC chief.
While senior legislators who are ministerial aspirants are demanding a Cabinet reshuffle, loyalists of the Chief Minister have been demanding the replacement of Mr. Shivakumar as the KPCC chief to checkmate his growing influence. The Chief Minister also reportedly informed Mr. Gandhi about the necessity of appointing a new KPCC chief, citing the demand of senior leaders.
Apparently, the AICC also told Mr. Siddaramaiah that there would be no change of Chief Minister at least till the completion of 30 months of the government.
Meanwhile, the party’s central leaders have told the Chief Minister to organise mega conventions in the four revenue divisions of the State to inform the public about the benefits provided by the government by implementing the guarantee schemes. The Chief Minister has invited Mr. Gandhi to participate in the programme.
Sources said the high command has cleared the names of four candidates to fill the four vacancies in the Legislative Council. Meanwhile, Mr. Shivakumar said, “Our thinking is to nominate those who are working for the party. It should not become an unemployment benefit. I have spoken to the Chief Minister and the high command about this.”
The Chief Minister returned to Bengaluru on Friday after competing a three-day tour to the national capital.