Even as knives are out against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over his decision to drop 14 Ministers in a recent Cabinet reshuffle, Chief Minister on Friday justified his decision but said he has started talking to dissatisfied leaders.
He said “I had informed them about possibility of dropping some Ministers to give opportunity for new faces in the Cabinet during Council of Ministers meeting on June 15. I was forced to undertake reshuffle and I have done in the interest of the party.”
“It is common after reshuffle that some will get disappointed but there is no groupism or bickering in the party. No party MlAs has raised voice against reshuffle, I have already started talking to those who are disgruntled,” he asserted.
Siddaramaiah is facing a major rebellion by a section of senior Congress leaders who have been dropped, is confidant of tide over the crisis. However dissidents led by senior leader Srinivas Prasad, Ambareesh and others have also in discussion with former External Affairs Minister and senior Congress leader SM Krishna in their campaign to oust Siddaramaiah to save the party. Senior leaders like Jaffer Sharieff, AH Vishwanath and others have also joined the bandwagon of dissidents.
However a close aide of Siddaramaiah disclosed that a compromise formula has been worked out to satisfy the demands of the leaders who have revolted against Chief Minister. According to him many MlAs and senior leaders would be appointed to board and corporations apart from appointing them as political secretaries to guide the Government. He also said eight suspended JDs MlAs for defying the whip in the Rajya Sabha elections were in touch with Siddaramaiah and there was no immediate threat of what so ever on his Government. According to party sources Karnataka in charge Digvijay Singh is expected to arrive in Bengaluru to talk to the dissidents and also workout a formula to over come the crisis.
Meanwhile, both the BJP and JDs are in touch with the rebels and waiting for the right time to strike the chord. A senior BJP leader said “nothing will happen now. This entire drama will have a cascading effect and just before elections (in 2018) it will all start. We are waiting for a chance for the winning horses to make Congress mukth Karnataka. However we are in touch with dissidents who are going to be probable winning candidates in the next election. “
Siddaramaiah who has completed three years in office has carried out a political exercise, the Cabinet reshuffle ahead of 2018 Assembly polls in the State. This exercise even though well calculated has pin pricks but weakened High Command has become a great advantage to Chief Minister as Karnataka is the last citadel of the party.