Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, May 27: As the Congress high command has been approached by a large number of candidates seeking ministerial berths, the party, it is said, is thinking of spelling out parameters based on which legislators would be picked as ministers. Caste calculations, representation to different regions, etc are expected to play a decisive role in deciding the eligibility of a person to become minister.
Congress leaders, Siddaramaiah, deputy chief minister, G Parameshwar, and former minister, D K Shivakumar, along with some other important leaders took a flight to New Delhi on Saturday May 26 to hold discussions on these issues with the central leadership of the party.
Congress national president Rahul Gandhi
The state leaders, it is learnt, are in a fix on account of too many candidates bringing pressure on them for a place in the state cabinet. Therefore, it was decided that the high command of the party would take a decision. It is said that several state leaders of the Congress do not fully endorse the shortlist of legislators prepared for the exercise. The time-tested formula based on caste, regional representation, and potential of the candidate are likely to come into play now. Added to this, there is pressure to accommodate significant number of women candidates in the ministry.
Another factor that needs to be taken care of, is that the coalition between Congress and JD(S) needs to work smoothly without any friction between leaders from both the parties. This is particularly important because Lok Sabha election is a year away from now. Several MLAs met Parameshwara on Saturday morning to lobby for ministerial positions. Parameshwar said that the news about him seeking specific portfolio like home, are false.
Karnataka chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, will reach New Delhi on Sunday to hold discussions with Congress leadership, duly armed with a list of people who are planned to be sworn in as ministers. As per the list prepared by JD(S), it is said Vokkaliga leaders will take the cake. It is not clear whether BSP's N Mahesh from Kollegal will be made a minister by JD(S) as it had entered into understanding with BSP for the election.
On Saturday morning, Kumaraswamy had confessed that there were some obstacles over allotment of specific portfolios. Asserting that this issue is not too serious, he said the cabinet expansion will happen once the Congress gets its list approved from top leadership.
Congress high command is also expected to finalize the candidate for the post of its Karnataka state president in place of Dr G Parameshwar, and candidates for the Legislative Council election to be held on June 11 in which Congress can field four candidates.