Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Sep 16: Even as rumours are running thick and thin about the likelihood of the coalition government buckling under pressures, both internal and external, the partners have decided to expand the ministry in an attempt to give a semblance of stability to the government.

Congress has been insistent on expanding the ministry to stop the disgruntled legislators from crossing over to BJP. At the same time, the statement issued by the chief minister about the employing of kingpins by BJP to dethrone the government has given rise to a game of mudslinging between the parties.

As soon as the information that BJP was using kingpins to pre-empt the fall of the state government spread, state in-charge of Congress party affairs, K C Venugopal, rushed to the city and obtained first hand information about the political activities here since a week. The discussions also covered the advantages and disadvantages of expanding the ministry now, how to get over problems if and when they arise, who are likely to succumb to the lure of joining BJP etc. Speaking thereafter, Venugopal said that there is no question of further postponement of the process of ministry expansion and that it will happen before the month end. He said that BJP's hopes of coming to power through conspiracies will not yield fruits as no one will cross over to BJP from the Congress.

At the same time, 'Pitr Paksha', a fortnight period before Navaratri, which is considered by Hindus as inauspicious for undertaking any new endeavours, will begin on September 26 and therefore, JD(S) might not be interested in ministry expansion at this juncture, many have speculated. Congress sources say that as that party has only one seat to fill, Congress should go ahead with the process even if JD(S) shows disinclination to induct new minister. As Siddaramaiah would be returning from foreign trip on Sunday, the leaders plan to hold discussions with him on the practicability of filling at least five of the seven existing vacancies in the ministry and also replacing a few existing ministers. There are also rumours about chances of Laxmi Hebbalkar being made a minister to offset the aggression shown by Jarkiholi
brothers. This will also help to stall the efforts being made by M B Patil, a Lingayat leader, from returning to ministry, as Hebbalkar is a Lingayat herself. There are many who feel that M B Patil has already been rewarded with a MLC seat for his brother recently.

In the meantime, JD(S) leaders, T A Sharavana and R Prakash, said that complaint would be made to election commission, governor, income tax department, Prime Minister, BJP national president, Amit Shah, union home minister, Rajnath Singh and some others, about Congress legislators being lured by BJP MLAs with lucrative offers. They said that legal action would also be launched in this connection against BJP leaders.