Cabinet expansion: CM Shivakumar, Surjewela meet disgruntled Karnataka MLAs

Amid simmering discontent over the recent Cabinet expansion in Karnataka, Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and party General Secretary Randeep Surjewala on Wednesday met disgruntled legislators.

The exercise is seen as the party's attempt at damage control following protests by supporters of MLAs denied Cabinet berths.

Similar efforts were made by Karnataka Congress President B K Hariprasad and a few other ministers to pacify the disgruntled legislators.

Even as the attempt continued, some senior like-minded MLAs who missed out in Monday's Cabinet expansion, which saw the induction of 19 ministers, decided to meet soon to discuss their future course.

The outreach appeared to have yielded some results, with Indi MLA Yashavantarayagouda V Patil withdrawing the resignation he had submitted from his legislative post on Monday.

He wrote to the Assembly Secretary on Wednesday, withdrawing his resignation. According to sources, Patil decided to do so after the CM and a few ministers persuaded him.

With more disgruntled Congress MLAs threatening to resign after being left out of the Cabinet expansion, Shivakumar on Tuesday warned that the party would accept their resignations within minutes.

He urged the disgruntled legislators to remain patient, saying posts in state-run boards and corporations would be filled soon.

Gubbi MLA S R Srinivas, who on Tuesday expressed deep displeasure over not being made a minister, struck a conciliatory note after his meeting with Shivakumar on Wednesday. However, he also praised his former party leader and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, who had earlier made him a minister in his Cabinet.

A group of ministers met senior MLA and former Minister T B Jayachandra, and Bengaluru legislators M Krishnappa and his son Priya Krishna, in an effort to pacify them.

Later in the evening, the CM and Surjewala visited Krishnappa's residence and held discussions with the father-son duo.

Hariprasad visited the residences of senior legislator and former Minister H K Patil, and former Ministers Dinesh Gundu Rao and T B Jayachandra.

Speaking to reporters, Jayachandra said, "There are differences, but they should be settled within the party. I hope that the high command and the CM will pay attention to it."

Asked about the proposed meeting of like-minded MLAs, Jayachandra said, "I'm in touch with them, I have also met them. Let's see, we will meet again and decide what needs to be done."

Earlier in the day, Hariprasad met Bangarpete MLA Narayanaswamy, Sagara MLA Belur Gopalakrishna and several other disgruntled legislators.

Narayanaswamy later told reporters that over 30-35 like-minded legislators, with Jayachandra and Ashok Pattan among them, who missed out on Cabinet berths would meet soon to discuss their future course of action.

"Hariprasad tried to convince us. He, too, has realised that Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts have not received representation and justice has not been done," he added.

Speaking to reporters, KPCC chief Hariprasad expressed confidence that the disgruntlement in the party would be resolved.

"I'm meeting almost everyone (who is upset); some are coming to meet me at the party office. Certain things happen sometimes... the party is very important. We have leadership. Everyone I met has agreed that we should work together. I'm confident that everything will be resolved," he said.

"Several seniors have missed the opportunity, I'm not denying it, but the party is important. When the party takes a certain decision, some may get upset. It is not a serious matter as everything will be settled," he added.

The sanctioned strength of Karnataka's ministry is 34, including the CM. Following Monday's expansion, one berth remains vacant.

According to sources, Surjewala is also likely to meet Siddaramaiah amid intense speculation within party circles that the former CM is unhappy because his recommendations were reportedly not accepted by the high command during the Cabinet expansion.

Byadgi MLA Basavaraj Shivannanavar, a Kuruba, not being inducted into the Cabinet, while the name of MLC from the same community, Gayathri Shanthegowda, whose swearing-in was cancelled at the last minute, figured in the list sent by the AICC, has reportedly upset Siddaramaiah.

Denying a Cabinet berth to MLC Umashree and instead naming her as the party's nominee for the post of Deputy Chairperson of the Legislative Council has also reportedly miffed him.

Siddaramaiah's absence from Monday's swearing-in ceremony for the new ministers fuelled speculation that he was unhappy. However, both his son, Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah, and CM Shivakumar rejected the speculation, maintaining that he skipped the ceremony because it coincided with his birthday.