Karnataka Cabinet expansion gathers pace as top Congress leaders arrive in New Delhi

The longawaited expansion of the Karnataka Cabinet is expected to gather momentum with top Congress leaders arriving in New Delhi for discussions with the partys central leadership Chief Minister DK Shivakumar former Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee CWC member Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee KPCC President BK Hariprasad are in the national capital as consultations over the ministerial reshuffle intensify reported IANSSeveral Congress MLAs and former ministers have also reached Delhi stepping up efforts to secure Cabinet berths Party sources indicated that the Congress high command could take a final decision within the next two days20 Cabinet berths remain vacantThe Karnataka government is currently functioning with 14 ministries including the Chief Minister leaving 20 Cabinet positions vacant With more than 40 senior leaders reportedly vying for ministerial roles the Congress leadership is carefully weighing its options to avoid internal discontent while the opposition BJP and JDS closely monitor developmentsAspirations express confidenceSenior Congress MLA Ashok Pattan a threetime legislator from Belagavi and a close associate of Siddharamaiah expressed confidence that the expansion process would be commpleted soonChief Minister DK Shivakumar is in Delhi Former CM Siddaramaiah and KPCC president BK Hariprasad have also arrived We expect the meeting with the leadership to take place by noon If a decision is taken today it is fine otherwise it could happen tomorrow We are hopeful that the entire process will be completed within two days Pattan said reported IANSPattan also openly declared himself a contender for a ministerial post saying his claim is based on seniority and loyalty rather than casteDuring Siddaramaiahs tenure I was denied an opportunity to become a minister I have now requested the leadership to give me a chance The party should recognise the sacrifices and years of service put in by leaders rather than only considering caste and subcaste equations he saidHe added that six MLAs had travelled to Delhi together and had already met AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge while seeking appointments with AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal and Karnataka incharge Randeep Singh SurjewalaMore leaders stake claimFormer minister and Congress MLA Laxman Savadi also reitered his desire for a Cabinet berth Although the Lingayat community is already represented by three ministers he expressed hope that two additional berthws could be alloted to leaders from the community Savadi had joined the Congress from the BJP where he had earlier served as Deputy Chief MinisterVeteran Congress leader and seventime MLA TB Jayachandra said the Cabinet expansion has entered its final phase and stressed that a fullstrength ministry is necessary for effective governance before the upcoming Assembly sessionThe Assembly session is scheduled to be held soon and I am confident that the matter will be finalised at the earliest The Cabinet is currently functioning with 13 ministers and governance will improve once the full Cabinet is in place he saidJayachandra who is currently serving as the Karnataka governments Special Representative in Delhi also said he remains hopeful of being inducted into the CabinetRegional and community representation soughtSixtime MLA Appaji Nadagouda demanded greater representation for the MumbaiKarnataka region saying the party should reward loyal leaders who have strengthened the organisation rather than relying only on caste calculationsFormer minister Rahim Khan also pitched for adequate representation for minority leaders stating that he is the only senior minority leader from the Kalyana Karnataka region He said community leaders have sought four Cabinet berths for minorities and expressed confidence that the Congress high command would ensure balanced representationDecision expected soonWith senior Karnataka Congress leaders camping in Delhi and ministerial aspirants actively lobbying for positions attention is now focused on the Congress high command which is expected to announce its decision on the Karnataka Cabinet expansion in the coming daysWith inputs from IANS