Ahead of crucial 2018 Assembly polls in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday expanded his Cabinet by inducting three Ministers keeping all calculations in mind. In a ceremony at Rajbhavan, Governor Vaju Bhai Vala administered the oath of office to Geetha Mahadevaprasad, HM Revanna and RB Thimmapur. He has inducted a lingayat (Geetha Mahadevaprasad), a Kuruba (HM Revanna) and a Dalit (RB Thimmapur) to take on the BJP. HM Revanna and RB Thimmapur are MlCs and Mahadevaprasad recently won from Gundalpete bypolls.
According to sources, the Chief Minister has taken a risk in taking Thimmapur amid opposition from party State president G Parameshwara and leader in the lok Sabha Mallikharjun Kharge. Siddaramaiah, according to sources, wanted to assert and chose Thimmapur.
Siddaramaiah also wanted to send a signal of consolidation to the BJP, which is wooing Dalits to get votes from that community. However, with Thimmapur’s name now linked to the TA and DA scam, Siddaramaiah may have to defend him as his choice.
However, the choice of Mahadevaprasad is a direct fallout of his promise to Gundlupete voters during the bypoll campaign that he would consider inducting her into the Cabinet. However insiders said that it was also linked to developments in his Varuna constituency, where there is a strong lingayat vote bank whom he could win over through this move.
The induction of Mahadevaprasad a lingayat from Mysuru belt would help consolidation of lingyat votes which is crucial for himself or his son Yethindra who is planning to contest from Varuna constituency in Mysuru.
As far as Revanna is considered a very senior politician and was waiting for a long-time to become a Minister. Since the position was open after HY Meti’s unceremonious exit, Siddaramaiah decided to induct Revanna a Kuruba.
According to sources, Revanna is likely to be elevated to the post of House leader in the legislative Council which has been lying vacant after Parameshwara’s exit.
The Assembly polls in Karnataka are crucial for the Congress to retain its national identity. The party is banking on Siddaramaiah to face the BJP’s challenge.
Siddaramaiah is trying his best to consolidate caste and communities by playing appeasement politics to
the hilt.