CM Siddaramaiah leaves for Delhi; cabinet expansion soon

Bengaluru : With Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah leaving for Delhi on Tuesday evening as one of the proposers for the filing of nomination of Congress leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar as the combined opposition candidate for the ensuing Presidential polls, speculation is ripe in political circles in Bengaluru that he may seek a

Dalit leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Babu Jagjivan Ram’s daughter Meera Kumar is the candidate of the 17-party opposition combine against BJP’s Ram Nath Kovind, also a Dalit and former Bihar Governor.

While Kovind has already filed his nomination papers on behalf of the NDA, Kumar will be filing her nomination papers on Wednesday.

Siddaramaiah is expected to meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi to seek the approval for filling the three vacancies in his cabinet.

While former Cooperation Minister H S Mahadeva Prasad had died, another Cabinet Minister H Y Meti had to resign over alleged rape and publication of video tape, which later turned out to be untrue. The KPCC President Dr G Parameshwara, who was also Home Minister, had to resign following the party high command’s decision to allow him to continue in his post.

In view of next year’s assembly polls, the Chief Minister is keen on filling the three vacancies early so as to allow sufficient time for the new ministers and all others to devote their time in preparing for the elections.

Congress party insiders claim that the Cabinet expansion could take place in the next week itself if the Chief Minister gets the party high command’s green signal.

It is believed that Siddaramaiah is keen on appointing B Ramalinga Reddy or Santhosh Lad, both of whom are known to be staunch supporters of the Chief Minister, as the next Home Minister.