Karnataka CM unhappy about Centre not consulting him
As Rajbhavan in Bangalore is gearing up for the swearing-in ceremony of Karnataka Governor-designate, 76-year-old former speaker of Gujarat Assembly Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala on Monday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his unhappiness over not consulting him in the process of appointment of the Governor by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi -led Union Government.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah felt that it was customary for the Union Government to consult the respective Chief Ministers of the State before the appointment of Governors. He told the media in Bangalore on Sunday, “It is customary and a tradition that before the appointment of Governors, the Union Government should consult the Chief Ministers of the State. In this case too I am not been consulted and I am not at all happy with the way he (Governor ) was appointed.”
“I am not against particular person made as Governor but the attitude of the Union Government not consulting the Chief Ministers which violates the tradition associated with the appointments of the Governor,” the Chief Minister clarified.
Meanwhile, in the Raj Bhavan of Bangalore, all set to welcome the new Governor which said to be a close associate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will be sworn-in on Monday. Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court DH Waghela will administer the oath of office to Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala.
Vala will take over from Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah, who was made acting Governor a day after HR Bhardwaj demitted office on June 29 after completing his five-year term.
When Modi took over as the Chief Minister in 2001, Vala vacated the Rajkot-2 Assembly seat, making way for him to enter the Assembly. During his long tenure as Minister, Vala held many portfolios, including Finance and Revenue and presented a record number of budgets in the Gujarat Assembly.
Siddaramaiah Cabinet expansion on cardsIJ
In another political development in the State Congress party, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and State party president G Parameshwara are all set to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party’s vice-president Rahul Gandhi
in Delhi on September 3 to get the clearance of names of MlAs for long pending Cabinet expansion.
Cabinet expansion has become a major stumbling block for the Chief Minister with the State Congress chief demanding deputy Chief Ministership. Parameshwara, a senior Congressman and an influential Dalit leader has made it clear that he would take up only deputy Chief Minister’s post and not interested to become a Minister in Siddaramaiah’s Cabinet.
However, Siddaramaiah, who has consolidated his position after the bypoll success, has told the high command that he doesn’t belive in two power centres and never encouraged Parameshwara who is aspiring hard to become deputy Chief Minister. According to sources in the Congress, more than two dozen legislators are aspiring to join the Cabinet and were putting pressure on the Chief Minister and the high command to accommodate them in the Cabinet.
However, Chief Minister reiterated that he has no plans to reshuffle the Ministry, but will only expand it.
There are four berths vacant of the total 34 berths. In all probability, the Chief Minister may induct three Ministers and leave one slot vacant. There are now 23 Ministers with Cabinet rank and seven with Minister of State rank.
Besides Parameshwara, the names of Y Meti and Dr Maalakaraddy Vinay Kulkarni, Eshwar Khandre and A Manju, among others are making the rounds as probable Ministers.
If the high command goes by Siddaramaiah’s opinion, Parameshwara may not get what he is aiming at.