Cabinet expansion unrest: Congress in damage control mode

After revolt by several legislators, whose supporters have taken to streets against their leaders not being inducted into the Cabinet, the Congress leadership went into damage control mode on Wednesday by reaching out to disgruntled leaders.

Party positions

The Congress is likely to offer certain party positions to key leaders to send a message to the communities important to the party in electoral matrix. Meanwhile, the party is expected to ask chairpersons of boards and corporations, appointed during the term of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, to resign to accommodate disgruntled legislators and party workers, sources said.

On Wednesday, AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala arrived in Bengaluru and met senior Vokkaliga leader and former Minister M. Krishnappa and his son Priya Krishna. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan also joined Mr. Surjewala in the meeting. Mr. Krishna defeated BJP heavyweight V. Somanna in Govindarajnagar in 2023, and the father-son duo were expecting one Cabinet berth between the two.

He also met former Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil, who is learnt to be sulking at not being inducted.

Monsoon Session

Sources said that Mr. Surjewala’s outreach to senior legislators was to ensure smooth functioning for the party during the Monsoon Session starting next week. “The party does not want any jarring voices that could give ammunition to the Opposition. Mr. Siddaramaiah continues to be miffed at developments. Senior leadership is likely to approach him too.”

Meanwhile, several legislators who had announced resignation seem to have backtracked after stern warning from the Chief Minister.

Some mellow down

Party sources said Sagar legislator Belur Gopalakrishna has mellowed down while Indi legislator Yashwanthrayagoud V. Patil withdrew his resignation on Wednesday. Raichur Rural legislator Basanagouda Daddal has informed the KPCC president B.K. Hariprasad on Wednesday of his intention to work for the party and backed down from his resignation threat.

Mr. Hariprasad also visited the residence of Mr. Patil, and Dinesh Gundu Rao, another former Minister. He also met former Minister T.B. Jayachandra, and Ashok Pattan to discuss the current developments.

“Mr. H.K. Patil is a senior leader and he comes from the Congress’s family. He may be disappointed. Everyone may get an opportunity some times and may not get sometimes. In the coming days this will be set right,” Mr. Hariprasad told presspersons after meeting Mr. Patil.

When asked how the disgruntled legislators will be mollified, he said that they will be accommodated either in the government or in the party. “The Congress is a big party with 142 years of history. Everyone will get opportunity.”

Social justice angle

Earlier, he said that the legislators who met him have sought appointments to boards and corporations and some have sought party positions. When his attention was drawn to several former Ministers seeking reasons for being dropped, Mr. Hariprasad said, “The main reason is social justice and opportunity to those who had been denied it. The party has given priority to those from SC/ST/ OBC/minority communities. Brahmins could not be accommodated for some reasons. We are considering where they can be accommodated,” he said.