The Congress is playing its card in many ways forgetting Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi’s diktat on corruption ahead of 2014 general elections in Karnataka. As the State is crucial for the Congress for the 2014 elections and to curb the dissidence, the Congress high command has cleared Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to expand his six-month-old Ministry.
According to sources in the Raj Bhavan, Siddaramaiah is all set to induct six-time MlA, former Minister and Vokkaliga strongman DK Shivakumar, who had missed the bus at the time of Ministry formation and five-time MlA and former Minister Roshan Baig on Wednesday (1 January, 2014). According to sources, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Governor HR Bhardwaj on Tuesday to request the Governor to administer the oath of office to the new Ministers.
According to sources in the Congress, the Chief Minister was reluctant to induct them into the Cabinet as both of them were allegedly involved in scams. In fact, the Chief Minister had described these two as ‘tainted’ and had kept them out of his Cabinet.
Shivakumar is facing illegal mining and land scam related charges. Roshan Baig had to resign from the SM Krishna Government after his name was figured in the multi-State Telgi fake stamp paper scam in 2003.
Both Shivakumar and Roshan Baig have served as Ministers in previous Governments in the State. Siddaramaiah did not induct them after he became the Chief Minister in May 2013 on the grounds that there was a strong opposition from the intellectuals and concerned citizens to induct them into the Ministry.
A senior Congress leader told The Pioneer that the high command has cleared their names and they will be sworn in as Cabinet Ministers. He said, “There is a dissidence growing in the party against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and in view of the ensuing elections, the high command has cleared them and they will be inducted as new year gift. The Chief Minister resisted so far but he has to toe the line of the party. When high command has cleared their names where is Rahul Gandhi’s fight against corruptionIJ”
The Opposition BJP and the JD(S) are waiting for an opportunity to strike at Siddaramaiah and this will be a major issue for the BJP. In fact, there is a stiff resistance from the intellectuals to induct tainted persons to the Ministry and this would certainly be a major election plank for the BJP and the JD(S) in Karnataka.
Meanwhile, Social activist SR Hiremath of Samaja Parivarthana Samudaya, who unearthed major scams including illegal mining in Karnataka, said on Tuesday that Congress MlAs Roshan Baig and DK Shivakumar will be imprisoned one or the other day.
He said, “Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s decision to include Roshan Baig and DK Shivakumar to his Cabinet is not at all right. Both are accused of illegal activities and involved in major scams in the State. Shivakumar allegedly indulged in illegal mining while Roshan Baig was alleged to be a prime accused in fake multi-crore stamp paper racket by joining hands with Abdul lal Karim Telgi.”
“Siddaramaiah has thrown out Rahul Gandhi’s statement to wind. Rahul had said that the party will not give Minister berth to accused persons. But what is happening now is sheer shameful act,” he said.